Washington state Lithuanians: January 13th events in Lithuania can never be forgotten

On the evening of Saturday, January 13, 2021, members of the Washington State Lithuanian-American Community came together via ZOOM to commemorate the events of the same date 31 years ago, that lead to the restoration of independence and withdrawal of Lithuania from the Soviet Union. The online event was organized and hosted by Dainius Vaicekonis, a
Professor of Music at Seattle Pacific University, LAC-WA Board member, and generous contributor of time and talent to the LAC-WA community.

The evening included a number of speakers, each telling personal and intimate stories about where they were, and what they felt the night that Lithuania took its place on the world stage in its fight for independence from the Soviet Union. The talks were informative, insightful and moving – bringing history to life in a way that only first-hand accounts can do. Rasa Tautvydas,
a student spending a gap year in Lithuania in 1990, gave a brief summary of the historical events leading up to the confrontation on the night of January 13th , and also shared her experience as a protestor on the ground in Vilnius at the radio tower and as a translator, getting Lithuania’s message out to the world in English. Zilvinas Zakarevicius shared his experience as a medical doctor at Svento Jokubo Ligonine, where injured protestors were being taken for medical care as the night wore on. Rimas Kundrotas, in a written statement read by Dr. Vaicekonis, described his role as a volunteer guarding the Seimas during the January 13th events.  On January 14th, Mr. Kundrotas was among the first Lithuanian soldiers who gave their oath to the newly established Lithuanian Army. Antanas Pulikas shared his first-hand
memories of the movement and events of the night of January 13th, which he documented in the film “Night Over Lithuania,” available on YOUTUBE. Dr. Vaicekonis and his wife Asta Vaicekonis shared their experience of returning home after their wedding, and finding a changed city and country.

In addition to the first-hand accounts of the night of January 13th, we also heard about the political movements paving the way to Lithuania’s restoration of independence in 1990. Dr. Vaicekonis talked about the significance of the Singing Revolution, the peaceful, song-based protest movement in Lithuania and its’ Baltic sister countries. Finally, several community members (Birute and Kestutis Tautvydas, Ina Bray, Irena Blekys and Jurate Harrison) shared
their experiences supporting the movement from the United States, raising awareness about Lithuania with their elected officials, teaching Americans about the forgotten countries trapped behind the Iron Curtain, finding other Lithuanians and forming new LAC chapters as their numbers grew. Woven throughout the talks and remembrances, was recorded and live music,
provided by Dr. Vaicekionis, in the spirit of the Singing Revolution, and moments of silence to remember the 13 people who lost their lives that night.

The LAC-WA is grateful for the time and effort that went into this event by the organizers and presenters. For some, the evening comprised new and enlightening information, for others personal memories, for all of us a reminder of the cost of freedom and preservation of democracy.