Hussar: The people of Estonia know how to cherish their history

NordenBladet —

Hussar pointed out that the story of the Estonian flag was unique – we were among the few countries whose first flag, with such a long history, had survived to this day.

“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 President 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.

Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma said a blessing at the flag raising ceremony. Chairman of the Estonian Flag Association Jüri Trei delivered a speech.

Uku Aaron from Laagri School and Aivi Jürgenson 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 Päts, the first President of the Republic of Estonia, also attended the flag rising ceremony. They were presented the flag that had been flying at the Tall Hermann Tower on 23 February this year. 23 February 2024 was the 150th anniversary of the birth of Konstantin Päts.

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 honour has been granted to our Olympic winners, to Estonian organisations 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 flag guards of the Guard Battalion, the Estonian Defence League, Women’s Home Defence, Young Eagles, Home Daughters, Scouts, Guides, as well as schools and academic and patriotic organisations attended the ceremony in the Governor’s Garden in the morning of 4 June. Tallinn Police Orchestra and the choirs of schools and the Estonian Female Song Society performed the music at the ceremony.

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 Otepää parsonage in South Estonia on 4 June 1884. This year we celebrate the 140th anniversary of the consecration of the national flag of Estonia.

Photos of the flag raising ceremony (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Address by the President of the Riigikogu on the 140th anniversary of the flag of Estonia
Words of blessing by Archbishop of the EELC on the 140th anniversary of the flag of Estonia

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Hussar: The people of Estonia know how to cherish their history

Source: Parliament of Estonia