JANUARY 1, 2025 — Lithuania commemorated Flag Day on Wednesday with events in Vilnius Cathedral Square, the Western Express reports, marking the 106th anniversary of the first raising of the Lithuanian flag on Gediminas Castle Tower.
The ceremony included the traditional lowering of the 2024 tricolor and the hoisting of a new flag for 2025 by soldiers of the Lithuanian Honor Guard Company.
The lowered flag was ceremoniously presented to Alytus District’s Butrimonys Gymnasium, recognized for its efforts in fostering civic values and preserving historical memory.
The school won the 19th annual “Flag for the School” competition organized by the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and the Lithuanian National Museum.
Lithuanian National Radio and Television reports that Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis addressed attendees, highlighting the historical and symbolic importance of the Lithuanian flag.
He urged citizens to remember that the flag atop Gediminas Castle Tower represents more than a national emblem.
“It is a daily commitment to defend freedom and independence,” he said, referencing ongoing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine as reminders of the fragility of sovereignty.
The ceremony was accompanied by a gun salute and the singing of the national anthem.
The tricolor was first raised on Gediminas Castle Tower on January 1, 1919, by a group of Lithuanian volunteers led by Vilnius city commandant Kazys Škirpa.
Historical accounts note that the original flag, hoisted shortly after Lithuania declared independence, was removed by Bolshevik forces occupying Vilnius on January 6, 1919. The annual Flag Day observance, reinstated after Lithuania regained independence, pays tribute to the bravery of those volunteers.
Minister Dovilė Šakalienė emphasized the significance of the flag as a hard-won symbol of freedom.
“This flag is not a given. It stands as a testament to those who valued liberty above life itself,” she said. “May 2025 be a victorious year for all of us.”
Image: Lithuanian National Radio and Television