{"id":818,"date":"2022-11-24T09:22:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T08:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/?p=818"},"modified":"2022-12-23T18:07:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T17:07:11","slug":"lithuania-marks-armed-forces-day-and-its-104-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/2022\/11\/24\/lithuania-marks-armed-forces-day-and-its-104-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania marks Armed Forces Day and its 104 anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>On November 23rd Lithuania marks the Armed Forced Day<\/strong> and this year the 104 Anniversary of the Restoration of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WATCH OUR VIDEO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lithuania marks the Armed Forces day with its allies\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/39koWoylbao?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><strong>Celebration of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Day, 2022<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I<strong> am in Vilnius to follow the celebration<\/strong>. The day is cold. It seems that winter has taken its space even if it is still fall. My accommodation is close to the Ministry of Defense. <strong>Since early morning a few militaries walk in the narrow streets of the old town<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"765\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Archbishop-Gintaras-Grus\u030cas-1024x765.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Archbishop-Gintaras-Grus\u030cas-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Archbishop-Gintaras-Grus\u030cas-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Archbishop-Gintaras-Grus\u030cas-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Archbishop-Gintaras-Grus\u030cas-640x478.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Archbishop-Gintaras-Grus\u030cas.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>St. Ignatius Church, cathedral of the Military Ordinariate of Lithuania. The Holy Mass is celebrated by the Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius, Gintaras Gru\u0161as<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The first appointment is at the St. Ignatius Church<\/strong>. That is not a normal church. It is <strong>the cathedral of the Military Ordinariate of Lithuania<\/strong>. The church of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Details-in-the-church-1024x721.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Details-in-the-church-1024x721.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Details-in-the-church-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Details-in-the-church-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Details-in-the-church-640x451.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Details-in-the-church.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Details in the church<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The church is full of soldiers and officers. <strong>Ministry of Defense, Arvydas Anu\u0161auskas, and the chief of Defense of the Baltic State, Valdemaras Rup\u0161ys<\/strong>, take part in the event. The Holy Mass is celebrated <strong>by the Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius, Gintaras Gru\u0161as<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Holy-Mass-St.Ignatius-Church-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Holy-Mass-St.Ignatius-Church-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Holy-Mass-St.Ignatius-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Holy-Mass-St.Ignatius-Church-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Holy-Mass-St.Ignatius-Church-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Holy-Mass-St.Ignatius-Church.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>St. Ignatius Church, cathedral of the Military Ordinariate of Lithuania<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The atmosphere is solemn and <strong>there are all the flags of the Lithuanian Army. And Ukrainian flag, too<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The archbishop reminds to all the war in Ukraine. He will not be the only one to remember. <strong>Every speech today will refer to the <\/strong>near war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/In-front-of-the-Ministry-of-Defense-1024x799.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/In-front-of-the-Ministry-of-Defense-1024x799.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/In-front-of-the-Ministry-of-Defense-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/In-front-of-the-Ministry-of-Defense-768x599.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/In-front-of-the-Ministry-of-Defense-640x499.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/In-front-of-the-Ministry-of-Defense.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>In front of the Minister of Defense<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Many ambassadors, including the Italian one, Mr. Diego Ungaro<\/strong>, are in the square. Before them are deployed the various battalions. Not only Lithuanians but <strong>also the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/2022\/08\/12\/new-challenge-new-commander-at-efp-nato-in-rukla\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">representative of the NATO countries<\/a><\/strong> that are allocated in the country: Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, Czech Republic, and the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Kids-at-the-parade-1024x632.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-824\" width=\"845\" height=\"521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Kids-at-the-parade-1024x632.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Kids-at-the-parade-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Kids-at-the-parade-768x474.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Kids-at-the-parade-640x395.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Kids-at-the-parade.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Kids at the celebration in the Cathedral Square, Vilnius<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Naus\u0117da<\/strong> is the first one to speak: \u201c\u2026At the time when a brutal enemy is attacking and ravaging Ukraine, we need to understand very clearly that our country, too, is a target for Russian imperial ambitions. <strong>We must support Ukraine with all our means because its fight is also our fight<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Day-celebrations-1024x708.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Day-celebrations-1024x708.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Day-celebrations-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Day-celebrations-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Day-celebrations-640x443.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Day-celebrations.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Lithuanian Armed Forces Day celebration<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The President reminds also that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lrt.lt\/en\/news-in-english\/19\/1817322\/nato-summit-to-take-place-in-vilnius-in-july-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">t<strong>he next NATO summit<\/strong><\/a><strong> will be held in Vilnius, in July 2023<\/strong>. An important event for Lithuania and for the security of the entire eastern flank of the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/NATO-countries-representative-1024x736.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/NATO-countries-representative-1024x736.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/NATO-countries-representative-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/NATO-countries-representative-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/NATO-countries-representative-640x460.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/NATO-countries-representative.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>NATO countries flags<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Ministry of Defense reaffirms the importance of the support to Ukraine<\/strong>: \u201cI can say with certainty and confidence thar the war in Ukraine, deciding the fate of the democratic world, will only make us more united\u201d. He reminds that support includes training of Ukrainian troops, military assistance and logistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today is also the moment of <strong>an important announcement<\/strong>. After long search <strong>the remains of the Lithuanian partisan Colonel Juozas Vitkus-Kazimieraitis<\/strong>, killed by the Soviets in 1946, were found. DNA would seem to confirm the finding, even if it still needs in-depth analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A great news for the Colonel\u2019s relatives, but also for the entire country that <strong>will finally be able to give him a digni<\/strong>fied burial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Chief of Defense stresses NATO membership<\/strong> for defending the country. \u201cThe era of the military conflicts and wars is not over &#8211; says &#8211; This year, Russia, a historic threat to our country, launched a war against Ukraine, Theory is over, and the practice has begun\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Parade-1024x674.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Parade-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Parade-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Parade-768x505.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Parade-640x421.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lithuanian-Armed-Forces-Parade.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>The parade in Vilnius<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The victory is the goal of the freedom and democratic countries<\/strong>. \u201c\u2026Ukraine defended itself from day one and has continued to defend itself ever since, demonstrating an unshakable will and an invincible commitment\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c\u2026We will win this war and prove once again that <strong>we are stronger than the world\u2019s bloodiest dictators<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The troops are ready for the parade in Gedimino Prospektas. <strong>A few kids, with their yellow jackets, run to pick up the bullets fired<\/strong> for the celebrations and they enjoy the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WATCH THE VIDEO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lithuania marks the Armed Forces day with its allies\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/39koWoylbao?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><strong>Lithuanian Armed Forces Day, 2022<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On November 23rd Lithuania marks the Armed Forced Day and this year the 104 Anniversary of the Restoration of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,1],"tags":[14,136,84,13,11,158,157,26,120,91,118,119],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":828,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818\/revisions\/828"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}