April 14

While sitting in Chicago waiting for my flight to DC, I decided I would pass the time by uploading a photo I took on my visit to Russia in 1997. This is a mass grave of soldiers killed in World War Two. It's in the largest cemetary in the world, called Piskarevskoye Cemetary in St. Petersburg. What is special to me about this photo is that my great uncle, Walter Heino, is buried there. Walter was a Karelian Finn who died fighting in the Soviet army in 1942. This family connection is important I think because it helps to explain my own personal interest in Russia and World War Two. This day is off to a good start. It was terribly hard to leave my family this morning, but now that I'm on my way, I know it's going to be an incredible experience!