This event has been devoted to a bust unveiling ceremony of the Triple Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal, a Citizen of Honour of Novosibirsk Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin, held on September 20 in the connecting gallery of the airport complex. The ceremony has been accompanied by a guard of honour of military servicemen of the Siberian district of the National Guard of the Russian Federation.

The unveiling ceremony has been attended by representatives of the local authorities, of the Museum of Novosibirsk, the Local History Museum, the Museum of Architectural History, the Public chamber, the Russian Historical Society, cadets of the Siberian Aviation Cadet Corps named after Alexandr Ivanovich Pokryshkin, media professionals, as well as the employees of the Tolmachevo airport.

The bust has been received by the airport as a gift from the head of the project “Alley of Russian Glory” Mr. Mikhail Serdyukov in honor of the Tolmachevo airport named after Alexandr Ivanovich Pokryshkin in the framework of the project “Great Names of Russia”, with an assistance of the Museum of Novosibirsk.

The unveiling date of the bust has been chosen not by coincidence — in the twenties of September 1944, the Triple Hero of the Soviet Union, guards colonel Mr. Alexander Pokryshkin had arrived on a short-term leave in Novosibirsk, where he had met with his family, friends and countrymen.

The Great Names Of Russia is a national competition, this competition was held from October 11 to December 23, 2018. The main stages have included the drafting of regional proposals based on the results of public discussions in the public chambers of the Russian Federation, a compilation of expanded regional lists, the sociological survey of All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) and a compilation of shortlists, as well as the all-Russian final vote. The list of winners is including representatives of different eras and occupations, including artists and writers, scientists and engineers, pilots and astronauts, government and public figures, pioneers and researchers, generals and military heroes.

The purpose of the Alley of Russian Glory project is to revive the Patriotic spirit of the Russian people. The authors of the project consider the Patriotic education as a source and means of spiritual, political and economic revival of the country, its state integrity and security. The implementator of the idea of the project, Mr Mikhail Serdyukov, is the head of the sculpture workshop, which is ready to produce and install free of charge on the territory of Russia and other countries busts of citizens who glorified Russia, made of bronze, as well as reinforced concrete, painted as bronze, copper and antique style. To date, 70 busts have been installed as part of the ‘Alley of Russian Glory’ project.