Good evening, my dear Latvia!
Happy 106th birthday!
It is a great joy to be here at the Freedom Monument. And it is a great pleasure to see so many smiling and proud people. Big and small. Your smile and your pride are a core part of Latvia.
It is a great privilege to celebrate freedom. Our ancestors would be filled with joy watching our celebrations. For us here and across Latvia. For us all around the world. They would be delighted because our festivities today give meaning to their efforts. It is our responsibility to ensure that future generations of Latvians will be similarly happy and proud of our accomplishments.
Friends!
Strong winds have always raged in Latvia. In the literal sense as well.
106 years ago, our ancestors faced a sea of the unknown. Yet, they chose to build Latvia. And through their efforts, courage was forged. The courage to defend our country. Courage that overcame the unknown.
Yes, at times there have been doubts. Anxiety has occasionally breathed down our necks. At times indifference and hopelessness have stared back from the mirror. And that is only human. Doubt and fear make us human. But together we must overcome them. Because courage and confidence make us a strong, free, independent Latvia.
Positive change is needed in Latvia. But is this the right time to make a difference? Is it really worth shaping tomorrow without knowing clearly what it will look like? Yes. It is.
This is the right time. This is our only time. We are here and now. And we must follow our dreams right now. Not tomorrow, but today. We will climb any mountain if we climb it together. If we lift each other up, not push each other down. If we give a hand instead of tripping one another. If we encourage each another. Then we will climb any mountain. And believe me – there can be very high mountains in Latvia.
We may know nothing about the people who are standing by our side here tonight. But we do know what unites us. It is Latvia. Our fatherland and our freedom.
Let us fight for our Latvia. Let us defend our independence. Let us protect each other.
Let us take care of our country. Let us take care of each other.
And let us be proud of our freedom. Let us be proud of each other. Because Latvia is us.
God, bless Latvia!
