Video report (Sgt Spc 1st Class Lukas Kalvaitis)
Video report (Sgt Spc Lukas Tamošiūnas)
“There can be no planning of an effective defence without a strong bond between the military and the society and support from the latter. Public trust is one of the cornerstones of a strong military, therefore a dialogue between an active, civic society and a modern and open Armed Forces is a vital guarantee of the security of our state,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said in Tauragė greeting the audience and participants of Public and Military Day.
On Saturday, May 18, Honour Guard Company performed and overflight by fighter aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states opened the Partisan Honouring, Public and Military Unity Day in the centre of Tauragė. Several dozens of military vehicles, numerous weapons and gear were taken to the park in the centre of the city and presented to the audience by Lithuanian soldiers and soldiers of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Lithuania.
“I expect that Lithuanian soldiers are not a shock to residents of Tauragė because there is a company of the National Defence Volunteer Force based in the city, and Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion is based in Sakalinė village nearby, however, I am sure that there has never been so many modern military equipment and weapons, Lithuanian and NATO allies’ soldiers in Tauragė like today. It was one of the reasons to choose this location for this year’s main events of Public and Military Day in Tauragė,” Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas said.
All services of the Lithuanian Armed Forces presented their equipment, weaponry and gear, and ways of service in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, invited to take part in various matches and relay races, NGOs cooperating with the Lithuanian Armed Forces had their representatives at a military tent camp in the park. The Lithuanian Air Force Dauphin (AS-365) helicopter landed in a stadium nearby since early morning attracted many visitors of the celebration, concerts were given by performing arts groups, history-themed expositions were presented – gear of Lithuanian fighters from the 14th century soldier to soldiers of the Independence Fights and period of guerrilla resistance.
More photos at MoD Facebook account
Photo credits: Sgt Spc Ieva Budzeikaitė
