Independence, freedom and security are result of painful sacrifices and hard work - president

RIGA - We should always keep in mind that independence, freedom, democracy and security are a result of painful sacrifices and hard work, President Edgars Rinkevics said in his Lacplesis Day address by the Freedom Monument in Riga on Monday.

To mark Lacplesis Day, a ceremonial change of guard took place at the Freedom Monument in Riga, which was followed by an address by the president and a defile program performed by the National Armed Forces' Brass Band and soldiers of the National Defense Service. Several hundred people, including schoolchildren, had arrived in the city center to watch the event.

In his speech, Rinkevics said that on Lacplesis Day we commemorate the soldiers fallen in Latvia's freedom battles, honor the recipients of the Order of Lacplesis as well as appreciate our traditions like the guard of honor by the Freedom Monument. The guard of honor was first posted at the monument on November 18, 1935, and on Lacplesis Day 32 years ago, guards of honor were posted at the monument and Riga Castle.

"We have already forgotten how it was without our army's guard of honor. How it was when we were not even allowed to assemble and celebrate by the monument. How it was when someone else told us what we can and what we cannot do. May this feeling remain in history, but let's always keep in mind that independence, freedom, democracy and security are a result of painful sacrifices and hard work," the president said.

Both during the Freedom Battles and today, the defense of independence is based on courage - the courage to defend the country in both professional and voluntary service, the courage to support and help our fellow citizens, the courage to follow the right path rather than the one we are used to. Freedom is the courage and responsibility of each one of us, Rinkevics stressed.

The tradition of Lacplesis Day was established soon after November 11, 1919, when Latvia's young armed forces defeated the larger and better-equipped West Russian Volunteer Army led by Russian Colonel Pavel Bermondt-Avalov and German General Rudiger von der Goltz.

Latvia's Freedom Battles were fought from November 18, 1918, the date of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, until August 11, 1920 when a peace agreement was signed between Latvia and Russia.