Speeches

Address by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, at the Flag Raising Ceremony in Daukanto Square

Dear People of Lithuania, Excellency Mr. President of Poland, Dear Participants of the Celebrations!

This morning I laid flowers on the grave of the Patriarch of Lithuania, Doctor Jonas Basanavičius, because February 16 is the date of his death. A few hours later we were shocked to hear about the passing of the National Poet of Lithuania, Justinas Marcinkevičius. It is a great personal loss to each and every of us.

We were brought up by his dramas Mindaugas, Katedra and Mažvydas. They raised Lithuania and protected what was the dearest of all - National Memory.

The memory of Justinas Marcinkevičius will remain forever in the hearts of the Lithuanian people.

The two outstanding people, the Patriarch of Lithuania and the Poet of the Nation, both passed away on the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania, imparting a special meaning to the history of our statehood.

Justinas Marcinkevičius said: "it is not easy to live in freedom, because it makes you responsible for everything." These words bring us back to February 16, when 93 years ago the signatories of the Declaration of Independence proclaimed to the world that they were restoring an independent state on the foundations of democracy.

Lithuania made this resolute and fearless step after a century long occupation. At that time, few in the world believed that it was possible to stand up and actually win.

But the people never lost their faith. Tenaciously and persistently they guarded the spirit of freedom which was their lifeline. They cherished and nurtured it, passing down Lithuania's long and dignified history, customs, and language from generation to generation. Liberation movements in other countries also offered hope and strength.

The Declaration of Independence of Lithuania was endorsed on February 16 by twenty committed signatories.

The nation trusted them because their words and deeds were of the same substance. They dedicated their lives to achieve national freedom. Mutual trust and a common vision created unity - the most formidable weapon that brought us to freedom.

In moments of difficulty and challenge, the signatories and their devotion to Motherland have always served as a pillar of moral strength.

Today we are free and counting the third decade of our reestablished independence. A generation that was born in freedom is now taking part in the election process. Nobody in the world has any doubts about the State of Lithuania.
Unless it is ourselves.

There are many hard-working people in Lithuania whose hearts are filled with dedication and enthusiasm to overcome difficulties.

There is enough of determination, effort and ability to build the wellbeing of our country.

So that unity would mean the agreement of all on fairness and integrity in politics and public service, on solidarity in our daily lives.

Let us be always proud of Lithuania, in joy and in difficulty. The signatories of the Declaration of February 16 provided us with a strong and sound foundation for Lithuanian statehood.

It is our privilege - and responsibility - to continue building a reliable house of the nation.