Riflemen hold annual meeting in Kaunas

KAUNAS, Lithuania - The 'Sauliai' Union, known in English as the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, held its annual meeting in the city of Kaunas on Nov. 4.

The Riflemen are the equivalent of the National Guard in the United States. Consisting entirely of volunteers, the Union has 6,500 members spread over 10 Lithuanian districts. About 250 attended the Kaunas meeting. Honorary members from émigré communities of Lithuanians living abroad were also present. While the latter do not participate in military activity, they play a vital role in raising money for much-needed equipment.

The Riflemen (and women), do not receive any financial compensation for their services and even need to contribute toward their own uniforms from their earnings in civilian jobs. They are a part of Lithuania' s defense infrastructure and can be called up to defend the country in a time of emergency. They also exist as an auxiliary police force, assisting in the maintaining of order at large public gatherings or in emergencies.

The Union is under the command of Col. Jonas Gecas, a charismatic bear-sized version of American Col. Oliver North, who drew dubious fame for his alleged involvement in "Irangate." He has the same self-confidence, ingratiating smile and brush-cut, salt-and-pepper hair. He gave a morale-boosting pep talk to his troops at the Kaunas Music Theater located on Laisves Aleja.

He told them to stand firm in the face of the sarcasm that accompanies media reports about the Union. The 'Sauliai' are often the butt of jokes for their die-sible to improve their image with the public.

Uniforms were also a major topic of discussion. The Union suffers from a lack of funding and often consist of hand-me-down and surplus fatigues donated by countries such as Denmark and Sweden. Standardizing the uniform is a major goal over the next two years. Gecas also proudly announced that a small honor guard had been outfitted with historical dress uniforms for public ceremonies and other official occasions.

Somewhat disturbingly for a western observer, the uniform includes the helmet and knee-high boots used by Nazi troops in World War II. But Gecas was firm in his defense of it.

"This is an exact reproduction of the historical uniform worn by our Union in the 1930s. We are simply carrying on a tradition," he said "There is no association to any other country, army or time period."

Following Gecas' address as well as reports from other key officers, the Riflemen formed up outside the Music Theater. Having been called to attention, they then marched down the Laisves Aleja pedestrian mall while their small pipe band played marches such as 'Scotland the Brave' and 'Yankee Doodle Dandy.'

Once they reached the Kaunas War Museum they stopped to place flowers on the monument of the Unknown Soldier. Senior officers shooed off two youths drinking beer in public nearby.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves. This is a solemn occasion. You are showing disrespect to your country," one of the officers told them. They then held an induction ceremony for 10 new members (seven men and three women) who swore an oath to defend Lithuania and then went up to the Union's flag one by one, knelt and kissed it.

New members are carefully vetted and are under probation for up to six months. "Anyone wishing to join has to undergo a battery of physical and psychological tests. The police also do background checks for us," said Gecas.

The Union is also considering allowing certain members to keep their weapons at home. "Right now all of weapons are under lock and key at police stations or in our armories. But it would make sense for some members in remote areas to keep them at home in their function as auxiliary police officers," he said.

The Sauliai also have a cadet corps for those between 12 and 17 years of age. With the growth in delinquency and substance abuse by youth in the countryside, the cadet corps is useful in giving some young people a role in society.

Aivaras, a 17-year-old veteran from the small town of Silute, near the port city of Klaipeda, has been a member for two years. "We have 100 young people right now who wish to join. We have to screen them carefully. Membership (in the Riflemen's Union) gives us something to do. We learn respect for older people and we do not become hooligans," he said.

Aivaras is intent on studying at university and will thus be exempt from serving in the army. "As a Union member I will still be able to serve my country even while I'm in school."