24th of February: Estonian Independence Day

Tomorrow's program:

07.33 Formal flag-raising ceremony at Pikk Herman tower

09.00 Placing of wreaths at the base of the Monument to the War of Independence at Vabaduse Square

09.30 Independence Day ecumenical church service at Tallinn Dome Church

11.00 Defence Forces parade at Vabaduse Square

12.30 Awarding of national science and cultural awards by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip in Academy of Sciences (Kohtu 6)

18.00 Independence Day concert and formal reception hosted by the President of the Republic and Mrs Evelin Ilves at Vanemuine Theatre and Concert Hall, Tartu.

All Estonia is finally ready for the celebrations of the Day of Independence which will take place all over the country on Wednesday, 24^th February with a variety of events.

Although the celebrations have already begun on Tuesday, 23^rd February in many Estonian towns, the biggest events have been saved for the 24^th when the capitol city will be peacefully invaded by festive meetings, concerts, exhibitions and the biggest parade ever registered in the history of Estonia.

Independence will be also celebrated in Pärnu, where there will be a memorial ceremony by the Konstantin Päts monument in Tahkuranna. At the Rüütli Square of  Pärnu city, the Declaration of Independence will be read like 92 years ago when the Estonian Declaration of Independence was firstly announced in 1918.
In Tallinn, between the different remarkable events, it is worth mentioning that the centre of the attention will focus on Vabaduse Valjak – Freedom Square, where also many students will pay a visit with the Major of the city Edgar Savisaar honoring the memory of all the pupils and teachers who died during the War of Freedom.
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves will also hand over state awards to 97 people for services rendered to the Estonian state.
And it is not over yet since, its neighbor country, Latvia, is about to join the event of singing national and patriotic songs which marks the Independence Day of Estonia. This year is the third year of this following singing event. The main singers are the inhabitants of an Estonian town, Karksi and the residents of Naukshen from Latvia.
Awesomely, people who attend the singing event can get the lyrics and enjoy singing along as Estonians and Latvians become closer although the relationship of the two countries has been impressive.

Source: Estonian Free Press