{"id":971,"date":"2025-03-12T20:20:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T19:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/?p=971"},"modified":"2025-03-12T20:15:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T19:15:14","slug":"thirty-five-years-of-freedom-for-lithuania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/2025\/03\/12\/thirty-five-years-of-freedom-for-lithuania\/","title":{"rendered":"Thirty Five Years of Freedom for Lithuania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A beautiful day in Vilnius, sunny and unusually warm for the season. <strong>A special day.<\/strong> On March 11 this year, <strong>the Baltic country marks the 35th anniversary of the restoration of independence<\/strong> in 1990. A freedom achieved thanks to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/2023\/09\/20\/zemaitis-the-value-of-resistance-speaks-historian-juodis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">a partisan struggle<\/a><\/strong> and subsequent unarmed resistance after fifty years of Soviet occupation.<\/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=\"Thirty Five Years of Freedom for Lithuania-REPORTAGE\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YbpO8PWZvhs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Streets are full of people<\/strong>. Each with a cockade, a small or large flag with the three colors of the national flag: yellow, green and red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The meeting point is in front of the Parliament<\/strong>, where the official event will take place: the raising of the flags of the three Baltic states and official speeches. <strong>Guests in Vilnius<\/strong> for the anniversary are the presidents of the Parliaments of <strong>Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Iceland, Poland and Ukraine<\/strong>. Iceland was the first country to recognize Lithuanian independence in 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A long applause is dedicated to the first leader of independent Lithuania, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/2021\/01\/14\/landsbergis-man-who-opposed-soviets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Vytautas Landsbergis<\/a><\/strong>, to former presidents <strong>Valdas Adamkus and Dalia Grybauskait\u0117<\/strong>, and to the current president Gitanas Naus\u0117da.<\/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\/2025\/03\/3-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But <strong>the real protagonists of this day are people<\/strong>: women, men, boys, children, elderly people. Smiling, they listen to the official speeches, <strong>wave flags, sing the anthem and participate in the march<\/strong> from the parliament to the Cathedral Square where the concert of the military bands of the three Baltic states is scheduled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A long parade winds along Gedimino Prospektas.<\/strong> The first ones arrive at the Cathedral, while the last ones are still in front of the Parliament. <strong>A long Lithuanian flag, followed by the Ukrainian one, winds along the entire parade<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today more than ever, for Lithuanians, it is necessary to protect and defend the freedom they have achieved. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/2022\/03\/13\/march-11-lithuania-independence-day-for-ukraine-reportage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine<\/a><\/strong> confirms how the <strong>uncomfortable neighbor, the Russian Federation<\/strong>, can still be a danger to the independence of the entire region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thirty-five years have passed, but <strong>Lithuanians know perfectly well that freedom<\/strong> is not something acquired. It must be protected. Day by day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WE ARE NOT AFRAID<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We talk with some people (interviews in the video)<\/strong>. What does this anniversary mean to them? Are they more worried than three years ago when Russia unleashed a full-scale war against Ukraine? <strong>\u201cWe are not afraid\u201d,<\/strong> they answer. Worried but aware of how necessary it is to be vigilant. <strong>How important support for Ukraine<\/strong>, the country under attack, is for them and for the whole of Europe. Some are moved as they speak, <strong>recalling the dark times of the occupation<\/strong>. Others say that they donate every month to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blue-yellow.lt\/en\/#ways_contribute\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Blue\/Yellow<\/a><\/strong> association that collects money to support the struggle of the Ukrainians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLithuania belongs to Lithuanians!\u201d; \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1Enxr7sv1V\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">In 1990 Ukrainians people were here<\/a><\/strong>, they helped us. We do not forget and today we are by their side\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"848\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-1024x848.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-1024x848.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-768x636.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-640x530.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strength, pride and determination allowed Lithuania to be free<\/strong>. And even today they are ready to defend their independence. \u201cNever again under Russia, never again under their influence\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The memories of the Soviet occupation are still alive<\/strong>. Most families had relatives and friends deported to Siberia. Many never returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the day in Vilnius, but the same happens in Kaunas and other cities of Lithuania, <strong>people are celebrating<\/strong>. It is also a moment of pride. Families, friends, acquaintances meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-1024x601.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-768x451.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories-640x376.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4-Vilnius-March-11-events-LithuanianStories.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Children are the happiest<\/strong>. They run under the big flags, play, have fun. They did not live under the occupation. But days like this are also a way to make them understand what their grandparents and parents felt. <strong>Events, workshops, quizzes have been organized <\/strong>at the Parliament Visitors&#8217; Center and in the Parliament itself, <strong>to remember what happened<\/strong>. Many are dedicated to children, so that they can learn, also through play, <strong>how difficult it was to gain freedom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the sun sets, <strong>the crowd gathers again in the Cathedral Square<\/strong>. It is time for the final concert. Singers and musicians take turns on stage. <strong>People wave flags and sing along to the songs<\/strong>. At the end of the concert, <strong>darkness has now enveloped the square. But not the strength and pride of a people<\/strong>.<\/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=\"Thirty Five Years of Freedom for Lithuania-REPORTAGE\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YbpO8PWZvhs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A beautiful day in Vilnius, sunny and unusually warm for the season. A special day. On March 11 this year, the Baltic country marks the 35th anniversary of the restoration of independence in 1990. A freedom achieved thanks to a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,1],"tags":[34,167,13,11,125,91,41,119],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/971"}],"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=971"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":976,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/971\/revisions\/976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lithuanianstories.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}