Speeches

Remarks by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, at the ceremony of handing over flowers to be laid at the graves of signatories of the February 16 Act of Independence

Distinguished Participants of the Ceremony,
Dear Family Members of the Signatories of the Act of Independence,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I extend my congratulations to you all on February 16 - a day of great national significance. Some of the events on the path of building a state can change the destiny of a nation. Such was the Declaration of Lithuanian Independence which dedicated the nation to the values of freedom. The spirit of resolve proclaimed by twenty prominent representatives of the people elected to the Council of Lithuania paved the way to the restoration of Lithuanian statehood.

The road to securing freedom was full of challenges, losses and sacrifices which our people withstood with dignity, courage and self-esteem. The signatories of the Act of Independence remained forever faithful to values of liberty. They served - whether in Lithuania or abroad - to build a stronger state and to promote the name of their homeland across the world.

Among the signatories, there were those who sacrificed their lives, in exile and in prison, for the ideals of freedom and independence. Their sense of citizenship and loyalty inspired freedom and resistance fighters and all the patriots of Lithuania to rise in moments of threat or difficulty and led us to re-independence.

We are proud of the Independence Signatories. As we pay homage to them, we celebrate the State, its continuity and we pledge eternal allegiance to Lithuania.

I hand these flowers over to the Signatories' family members as a tribute of national gratitude and respect.