January 14, those killed and those who perished from the injuries sustained during the events of the night of January 13, 1991, were honored for the 32nd time in the international “Path of Life and Death” tribute run . on the night of January 13, 1991, the Soviet forces began an assault on the Vilnius Television Tower and the Radio and Television Committee HQ guarded by citizens.
“our nation has strategic victories in the count of our modern times history: we have re-estalished the statehood on 11 March 1990, our freedom was consolidated on 13 January 1991, we joined NATO in 2004, and now the German Allies are stationing a brigade in Lithuania. As we run on the Path of Life and Death in commemoration of the January 13 victory, let’s celebrate together all our fundamental triumphs,” said Chief of Defence Gen Valdemaras Rupšys.
Over 7000 participants of the 32nd commemorative event from Lithuania and abroad ran the symbolic distance of 9 kilometers between Antakalnis Cemetery and the Television Tower. Over 2000 of them were Lithuanian and Allied military personnel. Everyone was presented with a commemorative medal at the finish line.
Tribute runs this year were organized by the Lithuanian military deployed abroad as well: commemorations took place in Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden and Germany.
The Lithuanian Land Force were awarded the best running team title this year, Kaunas Runners Club was named as the most numerous team, the best school team came from the Vilnius Jeruzalė Progymnasium , and the most numerous team from Vilnius represented the Gen Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. In the end of the event, six Lithuanian military servicemembers were recognized with Iron Will prizes for the best physical fitness results in different age groups.
The commemoration “Path of Life and Death” was co-organized by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Office of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian Amateur Runners Association, Lithuanian National Olympic Committee, Lithuanian Radio and Television Centre, Vilnius City Council, etc.
The “Path of life and Death” tribute run has been held since 1992. The events that consolidated the re-establishment of independence of Lithuania on 13 January 1991 claimed the lives of Loreta Asanavičiūtė, Virginijus Druskis, Darius Gerbutavičius, Rolandas Jankauskas, Rimantas Juknevičius, Alvydas Kanapinskas, Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas, Vytautas Koncevičius, Vidas Maciulevičius, Titas Masiulis, Stasys Mačiulskas, Alvydas Matulka, Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Ignas Šimulionis, Vytautas Vaitkus.
Photo credit: Pte 1st Class Karolis Kavolėlis
