"Security in Europe has become so delicate in the recent years. That has not only affected the significance of readiness for national defence, support of the society, and national defence budget, but also the increase of expectations and challenges. In this critical period when numerous essential decisions regarding strengthening our security are made, our professionalism, initiative and unity matter more than ever!" Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas say congratulating people of Lithuania on Lithuanian Armed Forces Day.
Celebration of Lithuanian Armed Forces Day begins on November 20 and will take place throughout Lithuania, including celebrations of Holy Masses in various churches.
Soldiers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) will line up in Cathedral Square and march in a parade down Gediminas avenue to mark the occasion on November 23 at noon. Lithuania Soldiers from other NATO allies - Latvia, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States will also participate. The event will be conducted to the tunes of the Band of the King's Division of the British Army.
JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets of the Hungarian Air Force Detachment currently deployed to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states are expected to congratulate the people of Lithuania with a flypast over Cathedral Square.
The official date of Lithuanian Armed Forces Day is November 23 marking exactly 97 years since the Government of the Republic of Lithuania passed a legislative act creating the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The General Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces was established on the same day, 1918.
Programme of events:
November 20, Friday, at 3.00 p.m. a thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Theresa of Avila (near the chapel of the Gates of Dawn, ViInius). The celebration will be attended by Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas. Later on a concert and awards of the Lithuanian Warrior Statuette will take place at the Vilnius Garrison Officers Club.
November 21, 6.00 p.m., residents and guests of Klaipėda are invited to attend a festive concert at Klaipėda Concert Hall (Šiaulių str. 36, Klaipėda). Performances will be given by the Band of King's Division of the British Army and the Lithuanian Air Force Band (free admission).
November 22, Sunday
At 10.00 a.m. a Holy Mass will be offered for the Lithuanian Armed Forces at the Church of Michael the Archangel (the Garrison Church) of Kaunas.
At noon ceremonies of hoisting the flag of the Order of the Cross of Vytis, commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the oath of allegiance of the National Defence Volunteer Force's soldiers and honouring of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers will take place in the courtyard of Vytautas the Great War Museum.
At 3.00 p.m. residents and guests of Kaunas are invited to attend a concert at Kaunas Garrison Officers Club (A. Mickevičiaus str. 19, Kaunas). Performances will be given by the Band of King's Division of the British Army and the Lithuanian Air Force Band (free admission).
November 23, at 10.00 a.m. a Holy Mass will be conducted for the Lithuanian Armed Forces at St. Ignatius Church of the Lithuanian military ordinariate (broadcasted live via the Lithuanian national television LRT).
At noon a parade will formed at Cathedral Square and then march down Gediminas avenue (broadcasted live via the Lithuanian national television LRT).
At 6.00 p.m. The Band of King's Division of the British Army and the Lithuanian Armed Forces Band will give a concert in Siemens Arena of Vilnius.
November 23 at 9.00 a.m. units of the Lithuanian Navy will fall into a formation in the territory of the Naval Flotilla in Klaipėda to mark the day.
At 10.30 a.m. a Holy Mass and a commemorative event will take place at Klaipėda's Mary The Queen Of Peace Church. The Lithuanian Navy Band will perform.
Photos from the MoND archive
