Last Friday, the whole world was colored in blue-yellow colors, it was exactly one year since Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Throughout the day, commemorative events were held in many places in the country, including in the Cēsi region.
Students of Cēsi State Gymnasium, Alfred Kalniņa Cēsi Music High School and other residents of Cēsis gathered at Vienības Square in Cēsis at nine in the morning to commemorate the event that significantly changed the world.
Addressing the gathering, the deputy chairwoman of the Cēsis County Council, Inese Suija – Markova, invited them to think about the words “fatherland” and “freedom”, because since February 24 of last year they have acquired a much deeper and more personal tone: “Only in our worst nightmares could we imagine that in our everyday language the word “war” will enter. Yes, we are still happy because we have our fatherland and we have freedom. We live in relative peace! We have warmth, light, food, our children can go to school normally, and our families can be together – in their homeland. We have to thank and appreciate every day that we are part of the European Union and NATO and that our skies and borders are protected by allied troops!
And yet every day we must continue to be together in thoughts and deeds with the many sons, fathers, husbands and also daughters, mothers and wives of Ukraine who are fighting the enemy and giving their lives for the most sacred thing on this earth – their fatherland and freedom. Much bigger than themselves!”
I. Suija-Markova also thanked every resident of Cēsis region who helped and continues to help Ukraine in every possible way.
Didzis Kreitzbergs, the pastor of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cēsi St. John’s parish, prayed for peace everywhere and in everything, including ourselves. For the end of the war, for the defenders of Ukraine, for the souls of the fallen, for the wounded, victims of violence, for those who are left without their homes, live in the cold, on the island, in ignorance and in the pain of loss. About Ukrainian refugees in the region, in Latvia and in the world, about the Ukrainian state, its leaders, its armed forces. Also for a new seed and fertility in the generous land of Ukraine.
The national anthem of Ukraine was performed by the Cēsi State Gymnasium Youth Choir “Tomēr” (conductor Ilga Šķendere) and Alfred Kalniņš Cēsi Music High School Choir (conductor Patriks Kārlis Stepe), and at the end the well-known “Light Palace”, whose words “Gaismu sauca, gaisma ausa, the Palace of Light rose up”, resonates so much with the hopes of Ukraine and the world.
The participants of the event addressed by “Druvas” stated that right now it is so important to feel unity both here in Latvia and to be united in thoughts with the people of Ukraine.
“It’s really unfathomable that nowadays we have to talk about real hostilities for a year. Instead of living in peace, to think about development, there were some, I wouldn’t even want to use the word “people”, who spit on it, who want to sow hatred, death, destruction. I think we all live in the hope of Ukraine’s victory every day, only this will allow us to feel calm in our land as well,” said Ieva Lezdiņa.
Yellow flowers were laid at the Victory Monument, lit candles were placed, expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
