The Estonian Cultural Garden hosted a Victory Day/Midsummer event on June 28, 2026. We had special guests:
Latvian – President of the Latvian Association of Cleveland, Haralds Mazarins,
Lithuanian – Honorary General Counsel of Lithuania, Ingrida Bublys,
Ukrainian – President of United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, George Jaskiw,
Estonian – Karl Altau, President Emeritus of the Joint Baltic American National Committee,
Musical performers – Lauren and Bob Godfrey.
Toomas Tubalkain introduced Trina and Jaan Pirn who sang the Lord’s Prayer in Estonian to begin the program. Greetings from Latvians, Lithuanians and Ukrainians were warmly received. Toomas then remembered all of the Estonians who kept our culture and language intact through the millennia and who fought and sacrificed to establish the modern country of Estonia.
After a brief reminder about One World Day (August 30), US250 activity in the gardens, and the Western Reserve Historical Society’s planned International Heritage Gallery, the keynote speaker Karl Altau was introduced. Karl talked about the wisdom of marrying a Latvian woman, his remembrances of decades prowling the halls of Congress pushing for Baltic and European Security, building the Baltic Caucus, and remembering Sumner Welles (who was wed to a Latvian), the author of the Non-recognition document that stated that the USA would never recognize the illegal annexation of the Baltic Countries by the Soviet Union.
After a performance by Lauren and Bob Godfrey, a basket of flowers was carried to the Estonian Monument, the assembled crowd sang the Estonian National Anthem and a group photo was taken. Then we enjoyed a social hour with snacks, lemonade and good conversations.
Toomas Tubalkain
