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Embassy of Lithuania in Washington and the German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States held a joint event to commemorate the Day of Defenders of Freedom, marking the January events that took place in Lithuania on January 13, 1991 in the aftermath of the reestablishment of the State of Lithuania. As a result of Soviet military actions, 13 unarmed civilians were killed that day and around 140 injured trying to protect the main government and infrastructure buildings of the Lithuanian capital from the Soviet military aggression.

Former American ambassadors and other senior diplomats, who served in Lithuania in the last two decades have gathered at the event and shared their impressive recollections of the January events and their estimation of the effect they had on a future course of Lithuania’s development.

In his opening remarks, the GMF Vice President Ivan Vejvoda underlined the extreme significance of these historic events and the fundamental imprint they put on the European geopolitical map.

‘Tragic January events of 1991 demonstrated exceptional strength and unity of the Lithuanian nation. Today we honor those defenders of Freedom who gave the ultimate sacrifice and demonstrated monumental courage and strength of human spirit. We won. We were not put back in a cage. It is a grand and victorious day in our history and we must commemorate this day with honor’ – Chargé d\\'affaires and Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Lithuania in Washington Simonas Satunas noted in his remarks. ‘Lithuania and its people showed no fear of tanks and fully armed brutal Soviet soldiers - they were met by waving national flags and songs. Lithuanians showed the world their will to be independent and to build their own country’, Mr. Satunas emphasized. He also noted the extraordinary support and attention a newborn Lithuania has received from the international media, the Lithuanian community in the United States, and the United States diplomats, who stood beside the Lithuanian government firmly - during the tragic events of 1991 and ever since - as a formidable friend and ally.

The first Ambassador of the United States to Lithuania Darryl Johnson (served in 1992-1994), Anthony Spokauskas (worked in Vilnius in 1991 and in 1998-2001) and 1995-1998 Chief of Political-Economic Section at the Embassy of the United States in Vilnius Jonathan Moore have shared their memories of the newly reestablished Lithuanian state and its first steps towards NATO membership.

Thomas Kelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Political/Military Affairs, Department of State, recalled the formation of the US-Lithuanian strategic dialogue and joint participation in the international security missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ambassador John Cloud (2006-2009) remembered a great number of official delegations of the United States senators, congressmen and administration officials visiting Vilnius during his tour.

Ambassador Anne Derse, who has recently completed her tour in Vilnius (2009-2012) noted remarkable efforts  Lithuania put in recent years in improving it\\'s economic climate, significantly increasing the American business interest (with the first Certified Trade Mission of American business organized in 2011) and strengthening its energy security.

American diplomats and other speakers emphasized the long path of successful development Lithuania has undertaken since that cold January of 1991 and grew strong as a prominent member of the international community. On a bilateral stance, Lithuania and the United States continue to enjoy very warm bilateral relations, based on shared values and interests.

Representatives of the Department of State, Department of Defense, National Security Council, other United States Federal institutions, alongside Pennsylvania National Guard Director, Joint Staff Brigadier General Timothy J. Hilty and other officers, members of the Lithuanian community of the Washington D.C. area, foreign diplomatic representatives and members of academia were among the guests. Ambassador Deborah McCarthy, recently confirmed by the Senate to be the next United States Ambassador to Lithuania, has also attended in the event.

 Photo by Ludo Seger