News

On 15 July Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas took part in the  events marking the 74th anniversary of the death of S.Darius and S.Girėnas in Myślibórz, Poland. During the one-day visit in Myślibórz, Minister brought flowers to S.Darius and S.Girėnas monument, participated in the Holy Mass, visited S.Darius and S.Girėnas museum and the local school named after the pilots.

Speaking at the monument to S.Darius and S.Girėnas, P.Vaitiekūnas remembered the heroism of Lithuanian pilots and the significance of their historical flight to Lithuania.

“Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas made a flight in attempt to fame their homeland. Although they never reached their homeland, they reached their goal of making Lithuania famous and welding the Lithuanian nation. Exactly on 17th July, the day when they perished, we celebrate the Unity Day for Lithuanians of the world. Today we have gathered here on a day, which is also a symbolical Unity Day for Lithuanians and Poles, marking the Battle of Grunwald,” – stressed Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas.

During his visit the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy presented meritorious citizens of Poland with S.Darius and S.Girėnas medals, met with Lithuanian youth from Lithuanian-Polish camp that was organized on the initiative of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cadets of the Military Academy of Lithuania on their march via Poland visiting cemeteries of Lithuanian soldiers, local Lithuanians and representatives from the local administration.

Minister P.Vaitiekūnas emphasized that there were few such important sites for Lithuania in Poland, which would be cared for so thoroughly by the local Lithuanian community, as well as by the local administration.

The monument and the Museum are voluntarily looked after by the local people, the Myślibórz City Municipality and Lithuanian community in Poland.

Embassy of Lithuania in Poland pays a lot of attention to the monument. In 2007 the surroundings were cleaned and repairs were made with its efforts. It is intended to put in order the S.Darius and S.Girėnas square in Myślibórz and erect a monument to Lithuanian pilots, as well as to open the S.Darius and S.Girėnas museum in the chapel of Myślibórz next year.

In the events marking the 74th anniversary of the death of S.Darius and S.Girėnas representatives from the Ministries of National Defence, Culture, Transport and Communications, Foreign Affairs, Education and Science, the Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad and the Kaunas City Municipality also took part.

This project is supported by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defence and the Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad.