Immediately after the establishment of the Republic of Latvia, we began to build our army. One hundred years ago, both old and young people responded to the call to get armed to defend their country, many of whom had never taken arms in their hands before such as Latvian students, who were among the first to defend Latvia, the Pupil Company of the Cēsis Regiment consisting of the children who went to the battles for Latvia directly from their school and whose motto “Sun Rose from Sword” is immortalised in this monument at the Unity Square.
Although they were poorly armed and poorly dressed, they were firm in their faith in their fatherland. That was their faith in the idea of a free, fair, and self-administered Latvia that distinguished them from their enemies. Our soldiers fought for a free, independent, and united State of Latvia.
Inspired by a shared destiny, Estonians rushed to assist Latvians. In the battles for independence, we fought together with our allies. The heroism of the soldiers and the victory over the Battle of Cēsis brought us the belief that we would win over our enemies together and return an independent Latvia, and protect an independent Estonia. In those battles, we gained faith in our own strength.
A hundred years after the Battle of Cēsis, Latvian and Allied soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder defending the values we share and fighting also together for human rights, self-determination of nations, freedom, and justice beyond our borders.
Today in the parade, we see our soldiers a century later, and they are well equipped and well armed. We see officers and soldiers whose professionalism is recognised all over the world and who are advocating the security of our country and entire Europe every day.
Nowadays, they are also united by the spirit of heroism - readiness to sacrifice and fearlessness before any superiority while defending their fatherland and freedom.
Today, a hundred years later, we are gathering in the town of Cēsis, where the fate of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Estonia was determined. May we remember how we fought for our land to always be aware of how crucial protecting our land is!
