Decoration and homecoming ceremony of the PRT-8 troops returning after the mission in Afghanistan, province of Ghowr, will be held in Klaipėda, Theatre Square, on June 5. The returning peacekeepers will be greeted by the Minster of National Defence and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt. Gen. Valdas Tutkus. The ceremony will also be attended by the Head of Joint Staff Brig. Gen. Algis Vaičeliūnas, Commander NDVF Antanas Plieskis, representatives of Klaipėda and regional municipality, families of PRT-9 members, and other guests.
The ceremony will begin with holly mass at St. Casimir's Church, later a solemn formation in the Theatre Square and decoration of the returning peacekeepers will follow. Combat flag of the 3rd Territorial Unit of NDVF Žemaičiai Military District will be marked by the Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė with a symbolic sky blue, white and deep read-coloured ribbon just as the ribbon of the Medal for Participation in International Missions is. Chief of Defence Lt. Gen. Valdas Tutkus and Commander of the 3rd Territorial Unit of NDVF Žemaičiai Military District and PRT-8 Lt. Col. Vytautas Reklaitis will pin a silver-plated ensign and a plate on the ribbon signifying of participation international operation.
About 150 troops were deployed to Ghowr from November 2008 to the end of May 2009 as PRT-8. Majority of the unit was formed of members of the 3rd Territorial Unit of NDVF Žemaičiai Military District.
Cpl. Vilius Džiavečka
Pictures of Lt. Karolis Zikaras: PRT-8 troops receive NATO medals for participation in international operations.
