The Flag Hoisting Ceremony, held today in Independence Square near the premises of the Seimas, was part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Day of the Defenders of Freedom.
Speaker of the Seimas, Loreta Graužinienė, highlighted in her speech at the solemn ceremony that it was the people’s unity that helped the country to gain freedom 25 years ago.
“On that memorable night, the whole nation joined together to defend its sovereign state and the right of the people and their children to live in a free country. Everyone felt summoned by the homeland for the crucial battle and all were determined to persevere to the very end. The night of the 13th of January bore testimony to the powerful people’s unity and trust in victory, in the face of which weapons proved to be powerless. We were truly determined to fight for freedom, even if it came to be at the cost of our lives,” the Speaker of the Seimas said.
Ms Graužinienė insisted that even though 25 years had passed after the January events, the nation should maintain unity at all times. “Wherever we live, be it in the city, town or village, and whoever we are, be it the living witnesses to history, or the children of independence, let us open up to one another with deep trust. Let us hear each other without words. Let us feel each other with our hearts, as was the case in 1991. By pooling our efforts together, let us jointly surmount all the difficulties, overcome all the challenges, and continue working for the cause of Lithuania,” said the Speaker of the Seimas at the Flag Hoisting Ceremony.
Participants of the Flag Hoisting Ceremony included defenders of the state of Lithuania, relatives of the victims who fell for the cause of freedom of Lithuania, top leaders of the Republic of Lithuania, members of the Seimas and the Government, Signatories to the 11 March Act of Independence of Lithuania, top management of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, representatives of the diplomatic corps, Vilnius county and city heads, representatives of public organisations, guests of the city, and residents of Vilnius.
A minute of silence was observed and three salvoes were operated by the Guard of Honour of the Lithuanian Armed Forces to commemorate the victims who died for the cause of freedom and independence of the country. The National Flag Hoisting Ceremony was accomplished by the Guard of Honour of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Military Orchestra.
Photos of the Office of the Seimas (author Džoja Gunda Barysaitė)
For more information on the events commemorating the Day of the Defenders of Freedom and for a detailed programme of events, please access the dedicated website.
Nerijus Vėta, Public Relations Unit, Information and Communication Department, Office of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6208, e-mail: [email protected]
