Thursday's flag day marks 103rd anniversary of Treaty of Tartu
“Today is the most important day of the past 700 years for Estonia, because today, for the first time, Estonia alone will determine the future fate of its people.”
- Jaan Poska
Thursday is a flag day in Estonia as the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty, which marked the end of the Estonian War of Independence and established the country as an independent republic.
The main solemnities take place in Estonia's' second city, starting at 9.00 a.m. with the laying of commemorative wreaths on the War of Independence memorial, in the Paulus cemetery.
Wreaths will also be laid in the Raadi cemetery, at the grave of freedom fighter Julius Kuperjanov (1894-1919).
At 10.00 a.m., another ceremony takes place at the Kalevipoeg war memorial, attended by Mayor of Tartu . Mayor Urmas Klaas (Reform), Education Minister Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa), Estonian National Defense College (Kaitseväe akadeemia) chief and Brig. Gen. Vahur Karus, joined by University of Tartu alumni representatives.
An hour later, at 11.00 a.m., a gathering at Vanemuise 33 will see speeches made by high school pupils and candles placed at the bas-relief depicting Jaan Poska, (1866-1920).
