Hussar at flag raising ceremony: Freedom is precious and its price is very high

Hussar pointed out that it had been the faith of our forefathers in Estonia that, through the War of Independence and the Tartu Peace Treaty, had given us the right we had fought for – to govern and decide our own affairs by ourselves in our own country. “This faith in our country and its future has led us here today, so that we can shape our future together, freely and independently of foreign power,” he said in the speech given in the Governor’s Garden at Toompea in Tallinn.

Hussar also drew attention to another anniversary – exactly 35 years ago today, the Estonian blue, black, and white flag was again raised on top the Tall Hermann Tower. “Tens of thousands of people here at the foot of the tower and hundreds of thousands of people all over Estonia watched it then, 35 years ago, with a lump in their throat and a thrill of joy in their hearts. It was all possible because our people never lost faith in a free Estonia, in our own state and in the fact that it is possible to leave the Russian times and enter the Estonian time,” he said.

Hussar recalled that two years ago today, a large war had broken out in Europe and from that moment onwards, we had been constantly thinking of Ukraine who is fighting for its freedom and for whom flying its national flag on its own soil is a challenge. “Attempts to take their freedom away from them by force are being made every day. Let us remember ourselves and remind everyone else every day that freedom is precious and its price is very high. Freedom must be fought for, to a victorious end,” he said, and assured that Estonia would stand by Ukraine until the victorious end of their war for freedom.

Hussar thanked all who had attended the ceremony and who were awake to raise the blue and black and white flag, as well as all those who had believed in Estonia. “We have many achievements we can be proud of, but the greatest of them is our own country, independent, free and sovereign. Happy anniversary to all of us on the birthday of our beloved country! Long live Estonia,” the President of the Riigikogu said at the ceremony.

Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma said a blessing at the flag raising ceremony, and Markus Andreas Auling, student of the Drama School Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, read out the Estonian Declaration of Independence The choirs of the Estonian Male Choir Association, and Tallinn Police Orchestra performed “Eesti lipp” (“Flag of Estonia”, music by Enn Võrk, words by Martin Lipp), “Hoia, Jumal, Eestit” (“God Save Estonia”, music by Juhan Aavik, words by Aleksander Leopold Raudkepp), “Jää vabaks, Eesti meri” (“Stay Free, Estonian Sea!”, by Viktor Konstantin Oxford), and “Kodumaa” (“Homeland”, music by Raimond Kull, words by Mihkel Veske).

Speech of the President of the Riigikogu

Photos of the flag raising ceremony (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

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Source: Parliament of Estonia