Let us always remember that independence, freedom, democracy and security are the result of painful sacrifices and hard work, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasised in his address at the Freedom Monument on the Lāčplēsis Day.
A ceremonial change of the National Armed Forces’ guards of honour took place at the Freedom Monument in Riga, followed by an address by the President of Latvia and a marching performance by the National Armed Forces Staff Band and the National Defence Service. Several hundred people, including schoolchildren, came to watch the event.
In his address, Rinkēvičs said that on the Lāčplēsis Day we commemorate the fallen soldiers in the Latvian War of Independence and honour the recipients of the Order of Lāčplēsis
and today we particularly value our traditions, one of which is the guards of honour at the Freedom Monument. On the 18th of November 1935, the guards of honour were for the first time assigned to guard the monument, and it was on the Lāčplēsis Day 32 years ago that the guards of honour took up their duties to guard the monument and the Riga Castle.
“We have already forgotten that it can be that our army’s guard of honour does not exist. That it can be that we are not allowed to gather and celebrate at the Freedom Monument. That it can be that that someone else decides what we can and cannot do. May this feeling remain permanently in history, but let us always remember that independence, freedom, democracy and security are the result of painful sacrifices and hard work,” the President said.
Both during the Latvian War of Independence and today defending our independence, courage is at the heart of it all – courage to defend our country, both in professional and voluntary military service, courage to support and help those around us, courage to follow the right path rather than the path we are used to. Freedom is the courage and responsibility of each one of us, Rinkēvičs said.