Dear Madam Speaker of the Saeima,
Dear members of the Chapter of Orders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear viewers of Latvian Television,
Dear people of Latvia,
Today, on the 105th birthday of our country, there is joyful excitement and slight agitation in the most beautiful hall of Riga Castle – the White Hall. We are gathered here to honour the best of the best. The most hard-working. The most industrious. Today, on behalf of the Latvian State, we say thank you. Thank you for the work you have done throughout your lives! Thank you for your service to our country! Thank you for helping others!
Behind each one of you are your families, your loved ones and your friends. Your fellow countrymen and your service members. I am sure that many of you will say later that it is not just your merit, it is thanking them too.
Each of you has, in your own way, gone from thorns to stars. Each of you has been strong and struggled. You are all people of integrity.
I am sure that the contribution to our country and society, to our fellow human beings, that you have made and contributed so far, will not end with this award. It will be an incentive for you to work even harder in the areas where you are professionals. To do what you love and often to help people too.
Your erudition, life wisdom and professional experience have so far enabled you to deal skilfully with a wide range of issues.
You all have one thing in common – to build our beloved Latvia with integrity and loyalty. Therefore, today I would like to say a big thank you to all of you, to congratulate you on receiving the highest honours of the State and to say: ‘Our country Latvia is proud of you!’
Long live Latvia!