[Евгений]

In the United States came the bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. The bronze sculpture was placed in a memorial park in Bedford, Virginia, in just days before the annual celebration in honor of the anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The U.S. first day of any military operation is traditionally designated as "D-Day", landing in Normandy, or Operation "Neptune" - the most famous of them.
Installing bust planned long ago, but from year to year was postponed because of sharp debate in society. With the advent of the monument they have not stopped, but flared up even more, reports The Roanoke Times.
According to the newspaper, many veterans refused to participate in Sunday's celebrations, believing that Stalin would now offer honors as well as other leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Their busts have long been installed in Memorial Park, Bedford.

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In contrast to these monuments, under the bust of Stalin placed a plate on which summed up all the atrocities of the Soviet leader. In particular, it reads: "In memory of the tens of millions perished in the reign of Stalin and all those who heroically at the cost of personal sacrifice denied victory of his followers in the Cold War."

Guide memorial also explained that the bust of Stalin is not a tribute to his merits as a reminder of his prominent role in the Second World War. In particular, it is a reminder that Soviet troops were distracted by all the attention of Hitler's armies, to allow the Allies free to land in France and open a second front.

Only a small number of American veterans agree with this opinion. One of them, 75-year-old Weyburn Norfleet, believes that the installation of the bust is absolutely justified: "We can not destroy the memory and history." He recalled the words of General Dwight Eisenhower said in his address at Auschwitz: "We need to gather as much evidence, photographs and video frames, certificates, so that one day and the hour when some son of a bitch will say that it never happened."

Most believe that a monument to Stalin insults veterans, who were traditionally celebrated during the memorial events. One association American Veterans has announced that he would seek demolition of a bust of Soviet dictator. According to them, in order to recall the role of Stalin, just one tablet.

Some point out that the bust of Stalin's disgrace to the entire memorial, and reduce the level of attendance, and therefore - adversely affect the funding.

Recall, in Russia arguments about the role of Stalin before the anniversary of the Victory turned into "poster war". In different cities on the initiative of individuals or departments CPRF attempts were made to fly the image "Great Leader". The Moscow authorities, in particular, wanted to decorate the streets of such posters.

Human rights activists and foreign media viewed these efforts as an attempt to glorify Stalin and give it a decisive role in the victory in WWII. They talked about the rebirth of Stalinism, supported by the Russian authorities.

But President Dmitry Medvedev in the pre big interview with "Izvestiya" rejected the allegations, stating that when assessing the personality of Stalin Russia's leadership comes primarily from the fact that he committed mass crimes against its people. In November 2009, the President publicly announced the Stalinist regime as criminal.

http://www.newsru.com/world/04jun2010/stalinbust.html