Text: Diana Koval

On a sunny yet frosty winter day, 16 February, Lithuania celebrated its independence. It was on this very day in 1918 that 20 members of the Council of Lithuania, headed by Dr. Jonas Basanavičius signed the Act of Independence. 93 years (nearly a century!) have passed since that time.

Sadly, Lithuania stayed independent only 22 years after 1918, and disappeared from the political map of Europe due to German and Soviet occupation for the period 1940-1990. Yet the memory about significance of February 16th still remains close to our people’s hearts.

Some very sad news happened 16 February this year when one of the most prominent modern Lithuanian poets, Justinas Marcinkevičius, died at the age of 81. As patriot and humanist, Justinas Marcinkevičius was a remarkable figure in the Sąjūdis movement for Lithuanian Independence. His death is a great loss for Lithuania and it‘s people.

During the celebration of the Independence Day, current president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, and other state officials attended a ceremony at the Rasos Cemetery in Vilnius to honour the memory of the deceased signatories of the Act of Independence.

According to the tradition, however, the main commemorating event took place by the House of Signatories in Pilies Street, where the Act of Lithuania’s Independence was signed. Hundreds of people of different age and background gathered, despite the blessing of extremely low temperatures.

Some of them came right from the solemn High Mass which was held at the Vilnius Cathedral. The event started with a recitation poem by Justinas Marcinkevicius “Singing Lithuania”. As always, professor Vytautas Landsbergis, spoke from the balcony, expressing sorrow and sadness due to death of the great poet of Lithuania.

He also pointed out that people should strengthen their conscience in order to keep Lithuania a strong and resilient country. After the speech of professor Landsbergis, everyone sang the National Hymn of Lithuania accompanied by a String Quartet.

It was a truly great feeling to be there, surrounded by hundreds of small flags and smiling people, realizing that we all, after all, live in a free, independent country!