The Seattle Estonian Society commemorated Estonia’s 108th Independence Day on February 15th.
The event started with the traditional American and Estonian flag ceremony and singing of both national anthems. The welcome address was given by the recently elected Seattle Estonian Society President, Merike Käo, who thanked all of the attending honorary guests and emphasized how important it was for the Estonians in the Seattle area to keep the language, spirit and culture alive. The honorary guests in attendance included: Inese Graudins, President, Latvian Association of the State of Washington; Inga Dabasinskaite, President, Lithuanian American Community of Washington State; Guntis Smidchens, Head of the UW Baltic Studies Program, in the UW Department of Scandinavian Studies; Paul Raidna, Estonian Honorary Consul of Seattle and Ivo Lille, Vabamu Museum CEO who was the event keynote speaker.
As is tradition in Seattle, the individuals who fought in the War of Independence in 1918 were commemorated by Paul Raidna reading their names and his son, Kevin Raidna, lighting candles next to their pictures. This tradition started as the Estonians living in the Seattle and Tacoma region gathered to commemorate Estonians Independence Day and honor the men who had to flee their homeland and start a new life in the US after valiantly fighting for Estonia’s Independence. In later years men who fought in the Korean and Vietnam War were also remembered.
It was a great honor to have Ivo Lille present the keynote where he stressed that the stories from Estonians, in Estonia or in varying global communities, unify the love of our homeland and wish for freedom, which keep alive the Estonian spirit all around the world.
Entertainment was provided by the Seattle Estonian Choir, conducted by Heather MacLaughlin Garbes and accompanied by Dan Coughlin.
Fred Rahuoja, who teaches Estonian at the University of Washington and his student were acknowledged for being at the event – for the Seattle area having a program where every year there are students participating to learn the Estonian language is definitely worth celebrating.
The main program concluded with a solo performance by Eili Rahnel followed by a buffet where attendees could socialize with old friends and make new acquaintances. To thank all the volunteers who contributed to the buffet, a lottery was held between those individuals and the winner received a basket of Estonian goodies.
Merike Käo, Laini Rippey
