On 25-26 October the solemn funeral ceremony of the First Lieutenant (retired) Antanas Kraujelis-Siaubūnas, Knight of the Order of the Cross of Vytis, the last Lithuanian partisan, volunteer who actively resisted to soviet government, was held in Vilnius. On Friday, the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces, servicemen and the society gathered in the Chapel of Šv.Ignotas Church to pay respect to A.Kraujelis-Siaubūnas. On Saturday, after farewell and St. Mass at Šv.Ignotas Church, the remains of the deceased were buried in the burial place of the Lithuanian Armed Forces' officers burial place in Antakalnis Cemetery.
On Saturday the Chairman of the Supreme Council-Reconstituent Seimas prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, vice- ministers of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas and Eimutis Misiūnas, Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania Major General Valdemaras Rupšys, Apostolic Administrator of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Archbishop Metropolitan Gintaras Grušas, Chief Chaplain of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Lt Col Rimas Venckus, Commander of National Defence Volunteer Forces (NDVF) Col Dainius Pašvenskas, commanders and representatives of other units, servicemen, members of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (LRU), freedom defenders, relatives of A. Kraujelis-Siaubūnas, other people participated in the funeral ceremony of the freedom fighter.
"Life and fighter's path of Antanas Kraujelis is an example of strong will, noble-mindedness and unconditional love of the Homeland. Lithuania never forgets its heroes! Their life sacrifice is the cornerstone of our freedom today, on which we build an independent and democratic state. From the post-war partisan fight our soldiers today are taking the determination and spiritual strength to be ready to defend their parents' land from the enemy, "said the Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania Major General V. Rupšys.
The solemn event also involved participation of soldiers Honour Guard Company, who fired honor salutes, Lithuanian Armed Forces Orchestra, and men's chorus "Aidas" of Vilnius Officers' Club. In the Antakalnis Cemetery, a corridor of honour was formed from the soldiers of the NDVS and the members of the LRU, whereby the partisan remains were brought to the burial ground. Respect to the Lithuanian partisan was also paid by US troops.
"The occupant destroyed brothers of the forest, but he will not destroy our history, our memory. We have to know how to defend our Homeland - for the sake of our country and our beloved people. I can say to anyone who doubts Lithuanian determination - we will never give up, like the last partisan of Aukštaitija Antanas Kraujelis, who fought with a weapon and did not give up, "- said soldier of National Defence Volunteer Service Cpl Ramūnas Tolvaiša, grandson of Alex and Veronika Lapašauskai, who cured wounded partisan Antanas Kraujelis-Siaubūnas.
During the reburial ceremony of A.Kraujelis-Siaubūnas remains, partisan's son Antanas Snukiškis plais a guitar and sang a song "Lets Save the Memory", partisan's sister Janina Šyvokienė in the name of her relatives thanked the gathered.
A. Kraujelis-Siaubūnas was born on 25 October 1928 in Kaniūkai village, Alanta district, Utena county. In 1946-1947 he was partisan liaison, in autumn of 1948 he became a fighter of Mykolas Urbonas-Liepa partisan platoon. In autumn of 1950 A. Kraujelis-Siaubūnas moved to the newly formed Henrikas Ruškulis-Liūtas platoon, operating at the intersection of Anykščiai, Utena and Molėtai districts, and was appointed as Chief of Intelligence Division, Žėrutis District Headquarters, later - Chief of Žėrutis District Headquarters.
For many years, even though armed partisan resistance started weakening, the occupant government institutions persecuted A. Kraujelis with extreme violence. On 17 March 1965 the KGB and armed soldiers surrounded the homestead in Utena district, where Siaubūnas had a hiding place. He disobeyed to the calls of Soviet security guards to surrender, A. Kraujelis-Siaubūnas did not give up alive.
After decades of searching by A. Kraujelis' relatives, historians and archaeologists, in June 2019, the remains of A. Kraujelis-Siaubūnas were discovered in the Orphanage Cemetery in Vilnius, the identity of which was confirmed by genetic data.
The President of the Republic of Lithuania on 19 May 1998 by Decree No. 72 awarded A. Kraujelis-Siaubūnas Order of the Cross of Vytis - Commander's Grand Cross (after death).
Partisan's sister J. Šyvokienė said: "Antanas Kraujelis-Siaubūnas died in his thirty-seventh year. For seventeen years the security was hunting, following him, but Antanas did not surrender and did not betray Lithuania. At the age of twenty he went to the forest, he sacrificed his youth for the fight, devoted his entire life and won because the security did not manage to arrest and kill him, even though they had impudently lied about killing Antanas Kraujelis. "
Photo by Sgt Spc Ieva Budzeikaitė
