\u201cWe won the War of independence and founded our state. We have passed a complicated path of history. It is necessary to know this, and tell about this to the young people,\u201d P\u00f5lluaas said in his speech. \u201cIf we do not know our history, if we do not have national self-awareness and pride, we will lose our roots. And a tree that has no roots perishes.\u201d<\/p>\n
P\u00f5lluaas expressed assurance that we would overcome all hardships also in the future, because the Estonian values were rooted deep in our hearts. \u201cIn a fight with no matter how powerful or strong enemy, those who uphold the principles of morality, and defend their family, their country and their people will always win in the end. It is important to have will \u2013 will for freedom, will to defend your fatherland, will to be and to remain masters of one\u2019s homeland. We have this will,\u201d he emphasised.<\/p>\n
P\u00f5lluaas said that it was our duty to hold and protect this wonderfully beautiful country, and to pass it on as even better and more beautiful, so that the fires of freedom would burn brightly in the hands of our children and all coming generations.<\/p>\n
The events of the Victory Day started today at 7 a.m., when the members of the Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation and the Defence League raised the flag of Estonia in all county centres. In Tallinn, the flag was raised at the Tall Hermann Tower. In the Governor’s Garden next to the Riigikogu Building, the Young Eagles (members of the youth organisation of the Defence League) lit the ancient fire without using matches or lighters. This fire will be taken to the Presidential Palace in Kadriorg, and at 11 o\u2019clock, it will be united with the memory fire lit in Tori. After that, the President of the Republic will send victory fires to all counties.<\/p>\n
The Victory Day commemorates the victory of Estonia over the Baltic Landeswehr in the Battle of V\u00f5nnu on 23 June 1919.<\/p>\n