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The President of the Republic attended Victory Day Celebration at Rakvere23.06.2004
 President Arnold Rüütel and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel celebrated this year's Victory Day at Rakvere.
In the morning at 10 am, a divine service attended beside the Head of State by the Chairwoman of the Riigikogu, the Prime Minister, Members of the Government and Riigikogu, and also by diplomats accredited to Estonia and representatives of the County of Lääne-Virumaa as well as the Town of Rakvere began in the Rakvere Holy Trinity Church.
The Presidential Couple after a short walk in the Pikk Street at Rakvere Näitustemaja, guided by Director of the Museums of Virumaa Foundation Ants Leemets, familiarized themselves with an exposition of the Estonian history from 1939 to 1940, and called at the Town Government of Rakvere.
Thereafter, at 11:30 am, President Rüütel at the Central Square of Rakvere reviewed a parade of the Defence League commanded by the Chief of the Defence League, Benno Leesik. The Head of State greeted servicemen, members of the Defence League, members of its women's and youth organisations, as well as all the other participants of the parade. At the parade with a total of 800 participants also the Latvian Zemessarde and the Maryland National Guard were represented.
President Rüütel in his speech on the occasion stressed our future-orientated hopefulness deriving from both the 85th anniversary of the victorious Battle of Võnnu and Estonia's NATO and EU membership. "One of the great goals of many generations - to ensure our people and Fatherland a safe future and sense of security also in processes of rapid globalization - has become more realistic," told the Head of State.
President Rüütel also emphasized the special role of the Defence League and its youth organisations - Kodutütred and Noored Kotkad - in upholding military readiness, organising territorial defence and nurturing defence will. "Our independence, people's well-being and national defence take their rise from the population's defence will and the state's capability of basic defence," the President of the Republic said. The Head of State added that the formation of defence will was an important task, which should be expressed by the syllabi of our schools.
Thereafter, the President of the Republic lit torches with Victory and Midsummer Eve's Fire, which high-ranking officers brought to all counties across Estonia.
The Victory Day Celebration at Rakvere ended with a reception given by Acting County Governor of Lääne-Virumaa Riina Kaptein and Mayor of Rakvere Andres Jaadla in the newly completed Sports Hall of Rakvere.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 23, 2004
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