Speeches

Address by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, in Daukanto Square on the Occasion of State Day

Dear Fellow People of Lithuania!

Today we celebrate together the State Day and the Day of the Coronation of King Mindaugas. It is one of the oldest dates in the history of Lithuanian statehood. It is also one of our newest national days.

The history of every nation is difficult in its own way. Painful losses and tragic events live on more persistently in the memory of small nations. We - Lithuanians - are no exception. But we can be joyful that our history has been marked not only by dramatic fluctuations, but also by hope. Today, we stand here in this square and look proudly at our tricolor flying high and free. It is the best testimony that our history has been successful and illuminating.

The Day of King Mindaugas is an excellent opportunity to remember that Lithuanians are those who feel Lithuanian.

Let us not forget that citizenship means a special bond between an individual and the state - a relationship that is best defined by giving, not taking or demanding. Today it is even more difficult to alight rights, freedom and responsibility than it was in the times of King Mindaugas or Vytautas the Great.

Therefore, we always come back to eternal values.

Today we will be singling the Lithuanian anthem at the same time around the world. This tradition, launched two years ago and so readily accepted by all Lithuanians, clearly demonstrates that throughout long centuries we have remained true and loyal to our freedom aspirations. It continues to unite us wherever we live.

I know that we love Lithuania like we love our dearest and closest friends - so beautiful and so imperfect. And even though we often keep our feelings to ourselves, we rejoice when our homeland rejoices. We are sad when it feels sad. We are angry when it does not live up to our expectations. And we long for it when we are far away. Wherever we might be - here or in distant corners of the world - Lithuania is always in the focus of our mind.

As we all know, we cannot choose our homeland, our nation or our fellow citizens. It is Lithuania who has chosen us. And that's why we are here. Trampled but unbeaten. Deported but never taken away. Shot at but surviving. Dispersed but firmly rooted in the native soil.

Dear people of Lithuania! I send my best wishes to all of you on our national day. Let us be worthy of the state that our forebears created and that we continue to build each and every day.

Let July 6th add light and optimism to our life!