Legacy of war veterans honoured with flag-raising ceremony on 27 April
National Veterans’ Day will be celebrated on Sunday 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 open to all 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 Hämeenlinna. The theme of the celebration is ‘message of peace’, emphasising the passing on of this message from the veteran generation to today’s children and young people. The theme honours the enduring bond of promise and trust between generations, which has historically been a strength and a resource for our small nation in both good times and hard ones.
The capital region’s own official Veterans’ Day celebration – an invitation-only event held at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet – will now take place for the last time. The youngest generation who served at the front turns 100 this year, and the responsibility for preserving their legacy will now pass from municipalities to the Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto association.
History and future meet at Espoo’s 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 Sakari Ropponen, Chair of the Aalto University Student Union Board, and the wreath bearers will be blessed by Dean Ari Paavilainen.
Coffee 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.
“The memory of our veteran generation is precious, and this shared event is our way of showing that. We will always remember what they did for our country,” said Mayor Kai Mykkänen and Chief Security Officer Petri Häkkinen, welcoming everyone to the event.
You can also watch the raising of the flag at espoo.fi/stream. The event will be interpreted into Finnish sign language.
Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto continues to foster the traditions and memories of veterans
This year marks the last time National Veterans’ Day is celebrated in its current form. As the generation of veterans gradually leaves us, Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto will continue to foster veterans’ cultural heritage and engage in veteran support work. The association also aims to promote national unity and uphold the spirit of national defence.
As President of the Republic Alexander Stubb stated in his speech to veterans at the Vahdinvaihto 25 event: “It is our duty to join you in passing on Finland’s story, again and again. This will help us avoid the mistakes made in history and ensure that Finnish people learn to appreciate what your generation did. This is needed because nations have short memories. We must regularly reiterate what peace really means: how quiet everyday life without fear can be so beautiful.”