Rasa Ardys-Juska

We Commemorate Together

A cross bearing the victims’ photos in front of the Radio and Television Tower in Karoliniskes, a residential area in Vilnius.

January 13, 1991

"On Sunday night, January 13, 1991, beginning at 1:35 a.m. local time, Soviet special forces using tanks and armored personnel carriers attacked the radio and television transmission tower in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. In the course of the action, fourteen innocent people were killed and over 500 injured by Soviet stormtroopers. They were defending the freedom and independence of Lithuania, which was reasserted by the democratically elected parliament on March 11, 1990. Soviet president Gorbachev as well as the Soviet legislature recognized Stalin’s seizure of Lithuania in 1940 as a criminal consequence of the Hitler-Stalin pact of 1939. But in January of 1991, Gorbachev spun around and seized Lithuania himself."

- Excerpt from The Gift of Vilnius,
edited by Arunas Liulevicius and Thomas Remeikis
published by the Public Affairs Council of the
Lithuanian American Community, Inc.

A monument in honor of the victims of the January 13th massacre stands in the Soldiers’ Cemetery in Antakalnis, Vilnius.

February 16, 1918

"After the last partition of the United Polish-Lithuanian State in 1795, Lithuania was subjugated by the Russian Empire and ruled by it until 1915. At the end of World War I, while Lithuania was occupied by Germany, independence was restored through the Declaration of Independence proclaimed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918 in Vilnius. All twenty members of the Council who had convened for that purpose in the great assembly hall of the Lithuanian Committee for the Relief of War Victims on Grand Street (Didzioji gatve) in Vilnius signed the Declaration. [When] Soviet Russia occupied Lithuania during World War II, commemorating February 16 [was] prohibited; nevertheless this important day [was] remembered by the people and [revived] the hopes for freedom."

-- From Encyclopedia Lituanica
Volume II pages 45 and 46

The monument dedicated to those who died for Lithuania’s freedom containing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands nearby the Museum of War in Kaunas. Wayside crosses and other monuments surround it. Stones used to construct this pyramidal monument were taken from the Lithuanian fields where the bloody battles for independence were fought. This monument was desecrated during the Soviet occupation. Newly independent Lithuania renewed this sentimental area on the Museum grounds.

All photos from Rasa Ardys-Juska

. . .T o g e t h e r

Throughout The United States, Lithuanian American Communities will be commemorating Lithuania’s Independence. Here is a partial listing of events, which may be in your area.

Anchorage, Alaska… planned event to take place on Feb. 13th. More information available from Mindaugas Kuzminskas, minkuz@sinbad.net or by calling 907-245-1136.

Baltimore, Maryland… Donatas Skucas will speak at the commemoration in the Baltimore Lithuanian Home, 851 Hollins St., Baltimore at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 14th.

Boston, Massachusetts… an Independence Day commemoration will take place at the South Boston Pilieciu Klubas, at 1:00 p.m. on Feb. 21st.

Brighton Park, Illinois… P. Vaicekauskas will speak at the commemoration following the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church on Feb. 7th.

Brooklyn, New York… after 11:00 a.m. Mass at Apreiskimas Church, 259 North 5th St., Brooklyn, speaker Dr. Vytautas Volertas and a cultural program will round out the commemoration at the Lith. Cultural Center, 341 Highland Blvd., Brooklyn, at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 21st.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts… events will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Craigville Conference Center on Feb. 16th.

Lemont, Illinois… following 11:00 a.m. mass at the Blessed George Matulaitis Mission Church a commemoration will take place at the Lithuanian World Center, at 12:30 p.m., on Feb. 14th.

Melrose Park, Illinois… Commemoration with speech and poetry readings at the Eagles Hall, 145-147 Broadway, Melrose Park on Feb. 28th.

New Britain, Connecticut… following 11:00 a.m. Mass in St. Andrew’s Church, 396 Church St., New Britain, the St. Andrew’s Senior Choir will be part of the program in the Church Hall at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 7th.

Palm Beach, Florida… at the Oceanview Methodist Church Hall, a commemoration with "Dainos" choir performance takes place at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 21st.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… speakers and a cultural program at the Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., 2:00 p.m., Feb. 21st.

Portland, Oregon… the area’s Lithuanian folk dancers will perform at the commemoration at the Latvian Hall, 5500 South West Dosh Rd., Portland, on Feb. 13th.

Putnam, Connecticut… Prof. Dr. Rimas Vaicaitis and a cultural program will be part of the commemoration at the Immaculate Conception Convent, 600 Liberty Hwy., Putnam at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 21st.

Sunny Hills, Florida… following Mass at St. Theresa’s Church in Sunny Hills, a program will take place in the Church Hall at 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 14th.

Seattle, Washington ...We will celebrate on Feb.20,1999 at the Latvian Center at 5:30 PM. The speaker will be Jura Avizienis, Ph.D candidate at the University of Washington who will speak on "Commemorating the Victims of Stalinist Deportations". The program will include singing,
dancing and a potluck dinner.

Washington, D.C…. After 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Washington, the commemoration will take place at the Latvian Hall, Rockville, Maryland at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 7th. A symposium will also take place on the topic of "Lithuania in the 21st Century."

Waterbury, Connecticut… Independence Day commemoration will take place at St. Joseph’s Church Hall, 8 John St., at 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 15th. The Hartford Men’s Trio – Jurgis Petkritis, Vytautas Zdanys, and Alfonsas Zdanys -- will perform.

Waukegan/Lake County, Illinois…commemoration to be held at the Libertyville Civic Center, Libertyville, IL, at 1:30 p.m., on Feb. 14th.