42 meters tall in the very heart of Riga stands a symbol of Latvia - the Monument of Freedom, adorned with the title "For Fatherland and Freedom" and dedicated to the Latvian heroes in the fight for freedom. (www.latviatravel.com)
A young women holding three golden stars high above her head, symbolises the provinces of Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale.
The monument was financed by the citizens of Latvia and was unveiled on November 18, 1935.
Renovation was last conducted in the period 1998-2001. (www.latviatravel.com)
A two-man Honour Guard stands at Freedom Monument daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It is possible for everyone to get as close as they want to the Monument of Freedom and it is the most "must see" object in Latvia.
At 7 pm on August 23, 1989 about 2 million people joined
hands forming a human chain spanning 600 kilometers, which is almost 400 miles.
The inhabitants of the Baltic States-Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia joined
hands in a peaceful protest demanding restoration of their independence. THIS
BECAME KNOWN AS THE BALTIC WAY. It became as a global attention for Baltic
struggles. This protest marked the anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. The Baltic Way demonstrated not only
a popular desire for independence, but also illustrated solidarity among three nations.
Although, I wasn’t born yet, my family was a part of this campaign and the emotions and feelings
they experienced were indescribable. It was not
only to show a political matter, but it showed a moral issue as well. Something like that had never been done
before. The Baltic Nations achieved the unthinkable–FREEDOM. This shows the
power of nations.
If there would not be the Baltic Way, I may not be living in freedom today.
Can you imagine that almost all Latvians, Estonians and
Lithuanians stood and hold each other hands to characterize their desire for
freedom? Even old people with difficulties to walk, showed their desire to be a part of unforgettable history event.
There is a song that consists of all three languages–Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian and is written because of the Baltic Way campaign.
