Over 80 students, librarians, museum workers, artists and visitors gathered at the National Library of Belarus to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. During opening remarks for the “Call Over Centuries” Exhibit on August 7, 2014, Chargé d’Affaires Scott Rauland said, “Today we are here to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, to honor those who served in that war in defense of liberty and their countries, and to promote mutual history and values.” The exhibit is a joint project between the National Library, the U.S. Embassy and the Green Cross non-governmental organization.
The U.S. Embassy’s contribution to the event included an exhibit entitled “WWI in American Posters, Books, Movies and Music,” with 26 reproduced American posters of the Great War, music of that time as well as over 40 titles of books, movies and documentaries – all of them highlighting the U.S. contribution to the Allied victory. The National Library displayed its collection of books, posters and other national cultural objects of the Great War era and over 50 French lithographic prints about the war. The Green Cross brought to the project graphic art works about the war from young artists in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.
The National Library First Deputy Director Elena Dolgopolova thanked the U.S. Embassy and the Green Cross partners for cooperation and expressed confidence that event would help to preserve common history and values.
More about the event can be viewed at the National Library’s website.