“Šeit mēs varam smelties iedvesmu un arī paši sev uzdot jautājumu, ko mēs varam darīt, lai stiprinātu Latviju, tās drošību, neatkarību un vērtības,” said Raimonds Vingris, as people gathered in Washington on November 11 to honor Latvian freedom fighters.
Latvian independence fighters, including Lāčplēsa War Order cavaliers and diplomats resting in the United States, were commemorated at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington on Lāčplēsa Day, lsm.lv reported.
Representatives from the Latvian Embassy, the Daugavas Vanagi organization, and relatives of the cavaliers attended the service alongside the local Latvian community. This tradition has continued for decades in Washington.
Exile Latvies gathered at Rock Creek Cemetery throughout the Soviet occupation to honor those who fought for Latvia’s statehood.
Five Lāčplēsa War Order cavaliers rest in the cemetery: Artūrs Baumhammers, Pēteris Vanders, Jūlijs Pinnis, Roberts Preiss-Straume, and Alberts Bulle.
Diplomat Jūlijs Feldmans and Anatols Dinbergs are buried there as well. Dinbergs served as the first ambassador of restored Latvia to the US and Latvian envoy to the UN.
Ceremony Led by Local Clergy and Community Voices
Anita Vārsberga-Pāža, pastor and provost of the Washington Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, led the service. She asked attendees to listen to the words of “Svēts mantojums,” a poem by Leonīds Breikšs, who died in Soviet repressions. The poem stands as a central symbol of Latvian patriotic literature.
Mārtiņš Zvaners of the Washington Daugavas Vanagi association spoke about the history of the award. The Lāčplēsa War Order went to more than two thousand people, including three women, according to Zvaners.
The fortress of Verdun in France also received the order for the bravery of its defenders during World War I.
Recipients included soldiers from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and the United States.
One US Army soldier received the decoration among the foreign honorees. “Visus Lāčplēsa War Order cavaliers vienoja tas, ka viņi drosmīgi un pašaizliedzīgi sekmēja Latvijas neatkarības izcīnīšanu,” Zvaners said.
Global Security Connections and Nationwide Commemorations
Vingris, deputy head of mission at the Latvian Embassy in the US, urged attendees to consider personal responsibility for future security. He asked participants to remember Ukrainian soldiers fighting for their own land as well as for the security of Latvia and Europe, lsm.lv reported.
Thousands of people across Latvia also marked Lāčplēsa Day by remembering independence fighters, lasi.lv reported. “Šodien mēs atceramies Latvijas Neatkarības karu un pieminam mūsu varoņus, kuri cīnījās par brīvu Latviju,” Iepriekš Rinkēvičs said, according to lasi.lv.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lāčplēsa Day
Who was eligible for the Lāčplēsa War Order?
The military decoration was awarded to soldiers of the Latvian army, former Latvian riflemen, and foreign military personnel who contributed to Latvia’s independence, along with three women and the French fortress of Verdun. Over two thousand individuals received the honor.
Which prominent diplomats are buried at Rock Creek Cemetery?
Jūlijs Feldmans and Anatols Dinbergs are buried at the historic Washington cemetery alongside five Lāčplēsa War Order cavaliers. Dinbergs served as the first ambassador of restored Latvia to the United States.
How did exile communities maintain the tradition during the Soviet occupation?
Exile Latvians in Washington continued to gather at Rock Creek Cemetery throughout the decades of Soviet occupation to honor the memory of fallen freedom fighters and diplomats.