March 11th-a special ceremonial and exhibition “President Smetona”

« Celebrating the restoration of Lithuania's independence, we invite you to consider one of the most important guarantees of our state security – the Baltic Sea, » said Olga Žalienė, Director of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum. It is both energy independence and security of citizens and borders. Together we aim to form a maritime community by breathing and trusting our country. ”

On March 11, 12 noon, the Suduvis M52 of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum « Suduvis » on the royal waterfront of the Dane, the flag of the first Lithuanian warship « President Smetona » will be presented and a joint safety for Lithuanian and Baltic safety will be performed with the participation of the Navy:

Historical flag of the warship « President Smetona ». Photo by T. Razmaus

During the event « Tricolor at the Sea Security », a copy of the flag of the first Lithuanian Navy President Smetona will be presented according to the original. The original flag, which has rescued from the Soviet occupation, was secretly transported to the West in 1940 and returned to Lithuania more than seven decades later. Its visual basis is the national tricolor, whose yellow and green bands in the middle of the Golden Cross of Vytis in the red shield. It is one of the few flags of the interwar Lithuanian Armed Forces, thanks to Povilas Labanauskas, the commander of the ship without the Soviets.

Following the solemn performance of the national anthem of the Republic of Lithuania, festive songs performed by singer Rasa Serra and saxophonist Laimon Urbik will be performed.

Warship « President Smetona » in 1928 In Klaipeda. Set of Lithuanian Maritime Museum.

Head of the Accounting Department of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum dr. Edwin Ubis says this year is special: “We celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Navy. Their start is the warship « President Smetona ». The history of the ship will be reflected immediately after the concert on the waterfront next to Sūduvis, an outdoor exhibition “Her Freedom Guard. Lithuanian Navy – 90 years in service ”, which will be on display by spring next year.” The exhibition was prepared by dr. E. Ubis together with the creative agency Dear Problem.

Sailors of the Training Wars Ship Smetona, 1936 Set of Lithuanian Maritime Museum.

In 1927, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania acquired the ship « President Smetona ». For some time, this warship served as a presidential yacht of the leadership of the country, but in 1933 it was prepared for military service and on October 26, 1935. The pilot swim to the sea became historic because the Lithuanian Navy flag was raised on the stem of the President Smetona for the first time. On the ship « President Smetona » daily, when the flag was lowered, prayer « to you, the eternal Father, the Lord of the Heaven and Water … »

President of the Republic of Lithuania Antanas Smetona and Minister of National Defense Stasys Dirmantas on the Warship Ship « President Smetona », 1936. Photo by the Lithuanian Central State Archive

The Lithuanian Maritime Museum, by actualizing the lesser-known pages of history, reaches the commemoration of March 11 to enrich the new maritime traditions. The event « Tricolor in the Sea » is organized together with the Klaipėda City Municipality and the Cultural Center Fishermen's Palace.