On May 17, in the heart of the Suwalki Gap, Marijampolė, the slogan of the Lithuanian Armed Forces We are You! will be inviting everyone to the largest community event of the Lithuanian Armed Forces – Partisan Honoring, Public and Military Unity Day. Such community events can inform very well the Lithuanian public about the Lithuanian Armed Forces and activities of NATO Allies in Lithuania, as well as to bring them closer to a crucial part of the society who is in the role for the good of the state and its people.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO Allies will begin the public engagement event in Marijampolė with a Holy Mass at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in the honor of the sacrifice of partisans and freedom fighters of Lithuania. After the tribute Mass, the Lithuanian Armed Forces bands and the Honor Guard Company will march to Jonas Basanavičius Square to start the official part of the event. The audience will be greeted with a fly-past of Lithuanian Air Forces aircraft and NATO fighter jets, admire hoisting of the flags of Lithuania and the three Armed Forces services and sing along the anthem of the Republic of Lithuania. A minute of silence will be observed in respect to the idea of restoration and preservation of freedom. The audience will be able to enjoy musical programmes of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Band, Choir Kariūnas of the Military Academy of Lithuania and bands from Marijampolė.
Static displays of Lithuanian Armed Forces’ and Allies’ tactical equipment, gear and vehicles will be positioned for the audience to enjoy in Poezija Park and on Vilkaviškis streets for the celebration guests to enjoy. The audience will be able to see the Vilkas IFV, PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, NASAMS of the Lithuanian Air Force, a Leopard tank, Puma and Boxer IFVs of the 45 German Brigade stationed in Lithuania, equipment of the Portuguese rotational force, and other pieces of advanced equipment and weaponry operated by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO Allies. The celebration programme includes parachute jumps by the Lithuanian Air Force, a dynamic display by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and our Allies, a sports match between military and community teams, the Military Academy of Lithuania will welcome everyone to test their hand in a General Jonas Žemaitis Challenge tactical really race, also, landing of tactical German Air Force and Lithuanian Air Force helicopters is planned, an exposition on the athletic field of Rygiškių Jonas High School, and may more distractions for the old and the young.
The Ministry of National Defence, the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union also have joined together to invite the public to mark the 81st anniversary of the freedom fights of Lithuanian partisans with the Samaningi Kilometrai (Eng. Mossy Kilometers) National Project: 7 mass marches in memory of Lithuanian partisans in different regions of Lithuania – Utena-Švenčionys, Lazdijai-Alytus, Tauragė, Širvintos, Telšiai, Radviliškis and Kėdainiai regional municipalities. You are invited to gain personal experience of walking in the footsteps of partisans in concrete physical areas, familiarize with the history of partisan warfare and nurture your civic will (https://kam.lt/samaningikm/).
Partisan Honoring, Public and Military Unity Day will also be marked on May 18 on LRT TV in the Tūkstantmečio Vaikai show. Six finalists of previous segments will compete in the super final of What Do You Know about the Lithuanian Armed Forces Contest for the name of the best expert of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and military history.
Programme, 17 May 2025, Saturday, Marijampolė:
11.00 a.m. Holy Mass at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in the honor of the sacrifice of partisans and freedom fighters of Lithuania (Bažnyčios g. 3).
11.50–12.00 p.m. Marching of Lithuanian Armed Forces bands and the Honor Guard Company to Jonas Basanavičius Square.
12.15-13.00 p.m. The official part of the event in Jonas Basanavičius Square.
- Hoisting of the flags of Lithuania and the three Armed Forces services, anthem of the Republic of Lithuania.
- The fly-past;
- The minute of silence in honor of Lithuanian partisans and Freed and Fighters;
- Programme and salutes by the Honor Guard Company;
- Programmes of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Band, Choir Kariūnas of the Military Academy of Lithuania and bands from Marijampolė;
- Speeches;
10.00-18.00 p.m. Static displays of the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ and Allies’ tactical equipment, gear and vehicles, presentation of NATO units, studies at the Military Academy of Lithuania, service options in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, tactical task matches, other distractions (Poezija Park, Vilkaviškis Street, Rygiškių Jonas High School athletic field).
