National and foreign public are invited to pay the last respects to the United States servicemembers who lost their lives while on training in Lithuania at a Dignified Departure ceremony in Vilnius in their honor Thursday at 11.00 a.m.
“I could see and feel all of you watching and worrying, offering assistance, sending support and spend each and every day of the operation with the rescuers and troops in that bog. There is still one step to take: to send the remains of the soldiers home with respect and gratitude. Because they are, which we have repeated on numerous occasions, to us our own. These four young men came to our land in defence of our people and did not make it in a laborious training. Let me invite everyone, therefore, to join the ceremony of farewell for the deceased United States servicemembers to pay our final respects here in Lithuania to those who put the duty of a soldier above their life,” said Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė.
Let us honor the fallen troops in this hour of grief and offer their families a shoulder to lean on no matter how far away they are as we let it be known that every United States soldier is its own soldier to Lithuania.
“Respect to Allied servicemembers is an inseparable element of comradery-in-arms. This tragic accident has shed a light on magnificent solidarity and unity within the state and with Allies, and we pay our final respects as we return our brothers-in-arms to their families. Every servicemember of Lithuania has taken this tragedy personally and therefore I express deepest condolences on behalf of all of them once again to families and comrades of the deceased. The United States solders are our soldiers. I thank you for your service alongside shoulder-to-shoulder,” said Chief of Defence f Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
Lithuania was struck by the news of missing U.S. military personnel a week ago. The search and rescue operation followed on March 25 upon reception of a report of four U.S. troops and a tracked vehicle gone missing during training at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė.
The Dignified Departure ceremony of bidding farewell will begin in the Cathedral Square and will proceed along Gediminas avenue to J. Tumas-Vaižgantas crossing. The event will be attended by President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Minister of National Defence D. Šakalienė, Chief of Defence of Lithuania, Archbishop Metropolitan Gintaras Grušas and other senior public officials, ambassadors and whoever feels touched by the tragedy. The ceremony will be broadcasted by LRT. Do not remain indifferent, join us to bow our heads in the honor of the U.S. servicemembers who gave their lives while on a readiness training exercise.
The 11th U.S. Rotational Battalion began the tour of duty in Pabradė: two battalions of the United States 3rd Infantry Division started the 9-month rotation of readiness activities in Lithuania with local and Allied troops. The United States has been rotating heavy battalions in Lithuania since 2019. NATO and U.S. force presence in Lithuania is a key deterrent. The United States passed a decision on an uninterrupted U.S. rotational force presence in the Baltic region. In its turn, Lithuania is committed to do everything necessary to provide Host Nation Support and infrastructure needed for the hosted U.S. troops.
The event is organized by Stiprus Kartu PE.
