Parliament speaker: Story of the Estonian flag is unique

TALLINN – The people of Estonia know how to cherish and value their history and are ready to fight together for their freedom, speaker of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar said at the flag-raising ceremony on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the blue, black and white flag of Estonia at Toompea on Tuesday morning.

Hussar pointed out that the story of the Estonian flag is unique -- we are among the few countries whose first flag, with such a long history, has survived to this day, the Riigikogu press service said.

"As long as we, as a nation, are able to preserve our relic, the mighty people of the ancient hero Kalev will always prosper," the speaker of the Riigikogu said.

"As a nation, we have been through a lot, and it has not been easy for us to become free. To be free, you must have the courage to fight for it, and we have that courage. United as free people, let us do together our utmost to ensure that freedom will never again become just a dream for us and will remain a legacy for our children and grandchildren for long years to come," Hussar said.

The head of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Archbishop Urmas Viilma, said a blessing at the flag raising ceremony. The chairman of the Estonian Flag Association, Juri Trei, delivered a speech.

Uku Aaron from Laagri School and Aivi Jurgenson from the Estonian National Museum assisted at the raising of the flag, and the Riigikogu and the Estonian Flag Association thanked them by giving them ceremonial flags.

Representatives of the family of Konstantin Pats, the first president of Estonia, also attended the flag rising ceremony. They were presented with the flag that had been flying at the Tall Hermann Tower on Feb. 23 this year. Feb. 23, 2024 was the 150th anniversary of the birth of Konstantin Pats.

The national flags of Estonia that have flown at the Tall Hermann Tower are given as presents by a decision of the board of the Riigikogu on the occasion of particularly noteworthy events and for outstanding services. Over the years, this honor has been granted to our Olympic winners, to Estonian organizations abroad for preserving Estonian identity, to the Estonian Flag Association and to villages that have been awarded the title of Village of the Year.

The National Flag Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the consecration of the blue-black-white flag of the Estonian Students’ Society. The first blue, black and white flag was sewn in spring 1884. It was blessed and consecrated at Otepaa parsonage in South Estonia on June 4, 1884.