Veterans’ heritage honoured at a flag-raising ceremony in Espoo
National Veterans’ Day is celebrated on Saturday 27 April in honour of Finnish war veterans and to commemorate the end of the war and the beginning of peace. In Espoo, the traditions include a flag-raising ceremony in Tapiola and a wreath-laying ceremony at Espoo Cathedral’s war graves.
The main Veterans’ Day event is held in a different city each year, and other municipalities also organise their own events. This year’s main event is held in Vaasa with the theme “Preserving the heritage of veterans – together we succeed”. The theme highlights the importance of safeguarding the heritage of our veterans and ensuring that we continue to recognise it.
The capital region event for invited guests will be held at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
History and future meet at the flag-raising ceremony
The flag-raising and the blessing of the wreath bearers at the Tapiola Amfi start at 9:30 and last about 20 minutes. Music will be performed by PPO Windband and Espoo’s veterans choir. A speech to the Finnish flag will be delivered by Fanni Mattsson, Chair of the Aalto University Student Union Board, and the wreath bearers will be blessed by Dean Ari Paavilainen.
Coffee and pastries can be bought from the soldiers’ home association’s van. The organisation’s activities bring generations together as they have been part of conscripts’ daily life for over 100 years.
You can also watch the raising of the flag at espoo.fi/stream. The event will be interpreted into Finnish sign language.
Preserving the heritage of veterans – together we succeed
Professor Ilkka Virtanen, a member of the Commemorative Committee for National Veterans’ Day, introduces the theme on the kansallinenveteraanipaiva.fi website(external link, opens in a new window):
“The wartime sacrifices made by veterans and the entire veteran generation to safeguard our country’s independence and freedom, their post-war reconstruction work, and their multifaceted activities in various roles in the welfare society based on these sacrifices are the most magnificent and valuable part of our country’s history. Preserving this knowledge and passing it on to future generations is a matter of honour for all of us.
This message is particularly important now that the veteran generation is leaving us for good and the legacy of veterans’ organisations is being passed on to the next generation. This year’s theme is a commitment to safeguarding the legacy of veterans. And it will be done successfully when it is done according to the principles of veterans – together.”