Partisan Honouring, Public and Military Unity Day will not be skipped this year. Only the celebration will be different. Everyone is welcome to see a pre-shot “distance” Partisan Honouring, Public and Military Unity Day celebration on May 17, Sunday, at noon on the Lithuanian Armed Forces Facebook account page.
Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys will pay respects to the Lithuanian partisans today. With the Guard of Honour they will lay flower wreaths at the monument for 16 February 1949 Declaration signatory, Chairman of the Council of the Lithuanian Liberation Movement, the 4th President of Lithuania, Partisan General Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas in front of the Ministry of National Defence, then they will pay tribute to the signatory of the 16 February 1949 Declaration of the Council of the Lithuanian Liberation Movement, Commander of the Lithuanian Liberation Movement Army, and head of state of Lithuania who resisted the Soviet occupation, Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas, and the last partisan of Aukštaitija region, knight of the Order of the Cross of Vytis, volunteer Antanas Kraujelis – Siaubūnas.
Viewers of the virtual celebration will be greeted by Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen V. Rupšys, video reports filmed specifically for the occasion will represent the different services of the modern Lithuanian Armed Forces, and founders of the National Defence System will be commemorated to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Defence. The viewers will be also treated to an artistic programme. Later the video will be also available at the official YouTube account of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Even though the celebration will be different and marked online, it will show to the society even more than at traditional celebrations do: viewers will be able to familiarise with and see the Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicle of the Lithuanian Land Force deliver live fire at a shooting range, the interior of a Lithuanian Air Force helicopter in flight and take a virtual voyage aboard the LNS Jotvingis of the Lithuanian Navy. A dedicated report will tell about training of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces personnel and their tasks, while pilots of the Royal Belgian Air Component who are currently safeguarding the Baltic airspace will share exceptional views seen during a fighter aircraft flight.
Partisan Honouring, Public and Military Unity Day is celebrated on the third weekend of May, it is a successor of Armed Forces and Society Coming Together Day. It was initiated by a small group of representatives of the armed forces and public organisations in 1935. The traditions was revived when Lithuania became independent and the celebration takes place on the third weekend of May in different cities and towns of Lithuania. The celebration that has been moved to digital space because of the coronavirus pandemic was planned to take place in Marijampolė.
Promotion video:
