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Everyone took the first steps at the beginning of Kretinga Street and walked to the intersection of Vytautas and Kretinga streets, where President Gitanas Nausėda and the mayor of the tourist complex Šarūnas Vaitkus met the participants at the historic city gate.
Julius Kalinskas / 15min photo / Historical procession to commemorate the centenary of Palanga’s return.
The participants of the march went to Birutė Park. There, at the foot of Birutė Hill, in exactly the same place where the celebrations took place a hundred years ago, a theatrical act dedicated to the centenary of Palanga’s return to Lithuania took place, repeating the events of that time.
In it, the actors imitated Maironis, Juozas Tumas Vaižgantas and Antanas Smetonas. Speaking in an authentic Samogitian dialect, allowed to empathize with the life of the Palanga society at that time.
Julius Kalinskas / 15min photo / Historical procession to commemorate the centenary of Palanga’s return.
After the performance, the mayor of Palanga Šarūnas Vaitkus spoke on stage. He thanked the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitan Nausėda, the members of the Seimas and guests of the city who loved Palanga. “Thank you and beautiful vacation. Be proud to be from Palanga, ”said Š.Vaitkus.
President Gitanas Nausėda spared beautiful words for Palanga and the people who live here. “A good mood includes having so many happy faces around you. This celebration is not only in Palanga, but also in all of Lithuania, confirmed by the fact that in summer the number of guests in the city is almost ten times higher than in Palanga ”, said the president.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Gitanas Nausėda
G.Nausėda admitted that he especially loves Palanga also because his mother was born in Lazdininkai village many years ago, and he himself was born in Klaipėda. “This land is very dear to my heart and it always attracts me to come back here,” said Gitanas Nausėda.
In his speech, the president also mentioned his 92-year-old father, Antanas Naus 92das, who, after calculating his strength, decided not to participate in the march. “I wish I had been involved. However, I respect my father’s decision, because he is almost the same age as Palanga’s return to Lithuania. Dad, although he decided not to take risks, is wholeheartedly with everyone who has gathered here and is happy with this holiday, ”said G. Nausėda.
G.Nausėda wanted to pay special attention to Antanas Smetonas and express her respect to the mayor of Palanga Š.Vaitkas. “Antanas Smetona was a dedicated and insightful patriot to the Homeland, whose activities we have not been able to fully appreciate. Therefore, I would like to express my greatest respect, Mayor, because you have made the decision to shelter the Antanas Smetona monument, which gives meaning to the work of our hero, without apologies or doubts, “said the President rejoicing.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Gitanas Nausėda and Šarūnas Vaitkus
Following the speech, the president received a medal dedicated to the centenary of Palanga’s return to Lithuania. This award will also be presented to other people helping Palanga: Vytautas Landsbergis, Valdas Adamkus, Dalia Grybauskaitė, Viktorija Čmilyte-Nielsen, Ingrida Šimonyte, Saulius Skvernelis, Andrius Kubilis and Algirdas Butkevičius.
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