Photos by ERR
A monument to the victims of communism was unveiled on Thursday, August 23 as part of the Estonia 100 summer celebration programme.
The memorial consists of two parts, one entitled “The Journey”, the other “Home Garden”. A plaque mounted on “The Journey” has the names of more than 22 000 victims engraved on it. The interior “Home Garden” area with its planted apple orchard and bee sculptures symbolises dreams, memories and homesickness.
The inauguration of the memorial was scheduled for August 23, the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarian Regimes. The inauguration and blessing began at 12 p.m. There were speeches by the President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu, Honorary Chairman of the Estonian Memento Association Leo Õispuu and Member of the Board of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience Göran Lindblad. There is an area of the memorial specifically for the generals of Estonia’s War of Independence and Estonian officers who fell victim to communist terror. A wreath was laid there by the Commander of Estonian Defence Forces General Riho Terras.
The design for the section of the memorial entitled “Teekond” was chosen from a group if 12 designs. The authors of this work are Kalle Vellevoog, Jaan Tiidemann, Tiiu Truus, Martin Prommik and Lidia Zarudnaja from JVR Architects and Interiors.
Additional information about the memorial and the inauguration is available at www.memoriaal.ee.
A photo gallery from the inauguration of the memorial can be found at: www.flickr.com/photos/ev100/albums/72157700187248654
