Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Maj Gen Wesley E. Craig extended condolences over the loss of life of a Lithuanian EOD specialist Sgt 1st Class Laimonas Blėdis to the leadership of the Lithuanian National Defence System.
"We mourn with you the loss of this brave Soldier and pray for the health and recovery of the injured Soldier," say the letters of condolence to Chief of Defence Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius and Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Rasa Juknevičienė.
Sgt 1st Class Laimonas Blėdis was killed in an explosion accident at the age of 36 on April 18 in military premises in his unit in Vilnius. Another soldier was injured.
Lithuanian Armed Forces develop active cooperation with the Pennsylvania National Guard for nearly two decades - from 1993. The Pennsylvania National guard organizes courses and seminars to Lithuanian military personnel, send instructors and observers to training events in Lithuania and invite Lithuanian military to exercises in the Pennsylvania State. Military of Lithuania and Pennsylvania cooperate in the International Security Force's mission in Afghanistan.
