Entitled “Commemorating January 13th, 1991: Lithuania’s Fight for Freedom,” the event included remarks from Simonas Šatūnas, Charge d ’Affairs of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States; Darryl Johnson, Former Ambassador of the United States to Lithuania, 1992-1994; Jonathan Moore, Political/Economic Section Chief, U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania 1995-1999; Anthony Spakauskas, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States to Lithuania, 1998-2001; Thomas Kelly, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States to Lithuania, 2004-2007; John Cloud, Former Ambassador of the United States to Lithuania, 2006-2009; and Anne Derse, Former Ambassador of the United States to Lithuania, 2009-2012. The commemoration was attended by 120 people, including government and embassy officials, representatives from the public, private and academic sectors, as well as many members from the extensive Lithuanian diaspora here in Washington and throughout the New England region. 

On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first republic to declare independence after Soviet occupation. After an economic blockade proved unsuccessful in curbing the Lithuanian drive to independence, Soviet troops seized key buildings throughout Vilnius in the early hours of January 13, 1991. Rather than dispersing, Lithuanians from across the country poured into the capital city, ready to defend the country’s fragile independence. Faced with peaceful but determined resistance, the Soviet troops were defeated. The Lithuanians’ success in defending their independence on January 13, 1991, proved an important further step in the democratization of Central and Eastern Europe. Each Ambassador and senior diplomat shared personal experiences and fond memories of the time they spent in Lithuania. From the remarkably warm relationship between the U.S. and Lithuania to the amazing people they met along the way, the speakers became nostalgic about the mushroom picking and the many accomplishments they watched materialize while in Vilnius. No matter how many years it had been since they last set foot in the distant Baltic country, each speaker, as well as audience member, has a special place in his or her heart for the county, its people and Lithuania’s unwavering pursuit of freedom.