“The Road of Life and Death tribute run is a symbol of our freedom and civil spirit that demonstrates we are able to internalize past difficulties and achievements and to honor and thank the memory of those who laid their lives for our freedom at present,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas welcoming participants of the tribute run.
Vilnius hosted the 30th international Road of Life and Death Tribute Run on January 8. Approx. 4000 participants of the event from Lithuania and 13 other countries, from the Far East to South America, honored the fallen Freedom Defenders this year.
Residents and guests of Vilnius of various ages and professions ran the 9-kilometer distance through the streets of Vilnius from Antakalnis Cemetery to the TV Tower, to pay tribute the Lithuanian Freedom Defenders who perished in 1991. Like every year, only the teams being smaller, runners representing different agencies, organisations, educational institutions, sports clubs, etc., from Lithuania and abroad, ran the distance across Vilnius. Everyone was awarded a keepsake medal on the finish line. After the event, Lithuanian Land Force servicemembers were also were given the Iron Will awards for the best physical fitness results in their age groups.
The event was organized in line with the COVID-19 preventive measures this year, which resulted in less than half of the number of participants as compared to 2020. The event was cancelled altogether in 2021 as a result of the lockdown and a “distance” running campaign was held instead (the participants ran a 9 km distance of their choice separately).
The Road of Life and Death Tribute Run has been organised since 1992 to honor the victims of January 13: people who where killed or died of injuries sustained during the night of 13 January 1991 as the Soviet military units were storming the Vilnius Television Tower and the Radio and Television Committee Building, namely, Loreta Asanavičiūtė, Virginijus Druskis, Darius Gerbutavičius, Rolandas Jankauskas, Rimantas Juknevičius, Alvydas Kanapinskas, Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas, Vytautas Koncevičius, Vidas Maciulevičius, Titas Masiulis, Stasys Mačiulskas, Alvydas Matulka, Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Ignas Šimulionis, Vytautas Vaitkus.
In January 1991 Lithuania survived a Soviet aggression that was met by thousands of Lithuanian people who bravely stood in defence of the re-established independence of Lithuania. Unarmed people brought the weapons of willpower and unbreakable resolve against the tanks and rifles of the Soviet aggressor. 14 of them were killed and hundreds – injured. What mattered the most during those days was the solidarity of the people in the face of the threat. The Independence Square where people would arrive from across Lithuania to stand watch by the bonfires for many days and nights is now the symbol of that unity. Every year, January 13 comes as a reminder of the victory won in the fight for Lithuania’s freedom and the heroes of that fight, the Freedom Defenders, and it fosters the hopefulness for the future of Lithuania.
The events are organize respecting the COVID-19 precautions.
Photo credit: A. Pliadis/MoD
