“A dialogue between of an active and civic society and a modern and open Armed Forces is a vital guarantee of security of our state because public confidence in the Armed Forces is one of the cornerstones of its strength. Events like this one help the Armed Forces to strengthen the bond with the society and ensure its further support which has already been record-breaking recently,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said ahead of attend the Partisan Honouring, Public and Military Unity Day events in Tauragė City and region of Jurbarkas on May 18-19.
The main celebration will be located in Tauragė this year on May 18. A military tent camp of several dozens of tents will be deployed at Jonas Viktoras Kalvanas Park in the city centre from early morning. All services of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will display their weaponry, gear, and military equipment, soldiers will tell about ways of military service and invite young and old visitors to take part in entertaining activities. The audience will be able to familiarise with military service “straight from the horse’s mouth” – soldiers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO allies.
According to Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas, the meaning of the celebration is to pay tribute to those who fought for Lithuania’s freedom and to show the society the protectors and defenders of Lithuania’s independence of today, the way and with whom they are training for national defence at home or take part in multinational missions abroad.
The celebration is planned to start at 1300hrs with flag-hoisting at V.Kudirka Monument and an overflight by pilots of the Hungarian and the Spanish Air Forces conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states with JAS-39 Gripen and F-18 fighter jets.
The audience will be greeted by Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas, and Mayor of Tauragė Dovydas Kaminskas, and also the Honour Guard Company of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will give performances and fire salutes.
The celebration in Tauragė will give an opportunity to see military equipment, gear and equipment used by our allies of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Lithuania: Hammer (HMMWV) armoured all-terrain vehicles, 36-ton Boxer wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, Leopard battle tank, Marder infantry fighting vehicles. The NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) will also present its activities, the Lithuanian Land Force will display all the infantry equipment – from Glock handgun to PzH2000155 mm self-propelled artillery howitzer, also, Miles laser battle simulation system. The Lithuanian Air Force will demonstrate its Dauphin helicopter, RBS 70 missile air defence system and Grom anti-aircraft missile system. Non-governmental organisations which cooperate with the Lithuanian Armed Forces will also be represented at the event.
The audience will be entertained by the Lithuanian Air Force Band, invited to see replicas of the 14th century weaponry and uniform of a warrior of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Special Operations Forces will present military equipment and weaponry used in precision operations.
The event will culminate in a demo operation by soldiers of the Reconnaissance Company of the Griffin Mechanised Infantry Brigade – object assault including combat actions on land and air support. The Lithuanian Navy will present equipment used in service for navigation and underwater actions.
Later in the day performances will be given by Aukštyn Wind Orchestra, Gloria Choir and Lota ir Do singing studio of Tauragė, and Kariūnas Choir of Gen Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.
It is a tradition that Partisan Honouring, Public and Military Unity Day is celebrated across Lithuania and heroic deeds of Lithuanian partisans are paid tribute to.
POC: Capt Gintautas Ciunis, +370 657 54854
Photo credit: MoD
