A huge *event in the Town Hall Square of Vilnius, Lithuania celebrating American Independence Day?
On June 30, 2022, that’s where Sam and I found ourselves. American flags arranged on the steps of the Town Hall (whose origins date from 1432), Big Band blaring from enormous speakers, small American flags being passed out to the hundreds of people gathering in the hot afternoon sunshine. A bright red vintage caddy, a misting machine to cool off the kiddos (visible above, bottom left), and a general sense of celebration as people waved their small flags. And, yes, a lot of American tourists.
At 4 p.m., the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard from the U.S. embassy in Vilnius presents colors. Dozens of volunteers in camo outfits file into the plaza and, under the barked orders of a Lithuanian soldier, begin unfolding a 2,647 square foot American flag. (see above) This takes some time as that huge triangle is carefully pulled opened section by section. The crowd is quiet. It is finally stretched across the plaza. Then, a soloist appears and begins singing the National Anthem. This, I must tell you, is almost too much and tears leak out from under my sunglasses.
Several speeches follow, including the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, Tamir Vaser, and Ukrainian Ambassador, Petro Beshta. The speeches honor our country—and the strong bond between our two countries.
Along with the hometown crowd we cheer a display by the Lithuanian Armed Forces Honor Guard and music by their Armed Forces Orchestra.
It isn’t just remarkable and moving, but we felt such a sense of joy and pride in America and in this country so effusive in its celebration of our independence.
The history of this small Baltic nation is one common in eastern and Western Europe. Settlement, war, conquest, a period of peace and cultural advancement—then the cycle repeats itself. Along with so much of this part of the world, Lithuania suffered terribly in World War II. And a Jewish population present for seven hundred years and numbering around 700,000 at the start of the war was almost completely destroyed. The country then experienced fifty years under Soviet rule that has left a deep antipathy, not toward the Russian people who live and work in Lithuania, but toward the Russia of oppression.
On March 11, 1990, independence was declared and restored.
Love of liberty is God-given. Our country has flourished because it does not just acknowledge that truth, but honors it. Being away from the land we love, yet seeing the effect of our country’s founding doctrines on display has been a wonderful experience.
May God bless you and those with whom you celebrate today. I hope, as my reading today in Psalms 145 says, that you will “utter the memory of [God’s] great goodness” to your children and grandchildren. There is so much to be grateful for.
*Note: For the history of this event sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania: https://www.facebook.com/AmChamLT/