LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER INVITES WORLD LITHUANIANS TO FOSTER UNITY AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF LITHUANIA’S FUTURE
On the occasion of the Unity Day of Lithuanians of the World, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis encourages Lithuanians around the world to foster the idea of unity and calls on every Lithuanian to contribute to the creation of Lithuania’s future, no matter where they live or what they believe.
“I believe that the idea of unity of Lithuanians around the world will be fostered, because each one of us, wherever we live, are able and should contribute to the creation of Lithuania’s future and promotion of Lithuania’s name,” the Minister’s congratulatory letter to Lithuanians around the world reads. On the occasion of the Unity Day of Lithuanians of the World, A.Ažubalis wishes world Lithuanians to celebrate this day in each community in Lithuania and around the world, so that it would become a real ‘Holiday of Lithuanianness’.“Let us bind the world Lithuanian family with ties of respect and trust in one another, build the bridges of unity and personally experience the spirit of the flight of ‘Lituanica’,” the Minister’s congratulatory letter reads.
On 17 July 1933, Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas were killed in a plane crash in Germany after their plane ‘Lituanica’ crossed the Atlantic Ocean. They never reached Lithuania.
On the proposal of the then Consul General of Lithuania to the U.S. Povilas Žadeikis, the 17th of July was chosen as the Unity Day of Lithuanians in the U.S. and, later, all Lithuanians around the world started to celebrate it.
On this day, Lithuanians are encouraged to forget all political disputes, personal disagreements or different opinions and feel a spiritual connection with the people, spread across all seven continents of the world.
