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Today, January 13, Lithuanians across the globe stop to remember the importance and price of Freedom. Thirty years ago 14 people lost their lives on Lithuania's path leading to democracy. Today, on a Freedom Fighters Day, Forget-Me-Not blooms close to our hearts and candles in the windows remind us why we are free and how special Freedom is to every Lithuanian of every generation no matter where they are.
While many planned events had to be canceled due to the pandemic, people still found the ways to make this day special.
Alexandra Kazickas School students on Long Island, NY gathered on Saturday and dedicated time to make their own Forget-Me-Nots while discussing the January 13 events with their teachers. It is difficult for the youngest generation to understand how fragile freedom is, but learning to honor the ones who sacrificed their lives for our freedom is never too early. Students also learned the song "Laisve" (Freedom) that was written in the late 80's and became an unofficial anthem of the Reform Movement in Lithuania and brought home a special candle to light on Wednesday together with their families.
In Lithuania that is still in a lockdown and the only version of an event possible that allows over 70 individuals to meet is via Zoom, "Youth Can" team invited program's students to meet an architect, musician and active public figure Algirdas Kauspedas, who was one of the initiators of the Lithuanian Reform Movement Sąjūdis in the late 80's. He shared his experience and thoughts on what inspired him to play an active role in Lithuanian public life. According to A. Kauspedas, "there are two kinds of Freedom, the outer one and inner one. We fight for the outer one, while quite often we re not free inside. Inner Freedom gives love and creativity."
Let's wear Forget-Me-Not, light a candle today and never forget why we are free!
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