| |
 | Press Releases | | |
The President of the Republic attended a Mother's Day and commemoration of war victims service08.05.2005
President Arnold Rüütel and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel this morning attended a Mother's Day service in Kaarli Church where those lost in World War II were commemorated.
At noon, the President of the Republic greeted Estonian mothers on the occasion of Mother's Day at a celebratory concert in the Estonia Concert Hall. In his speech, the Head of state stressed the dual significance of the day as Mother's Day and as a day of commemoration of the victims of war and reconciliation. "Mother's Day is celebrated today in many families all over the world. Probably there are not less people for whom May 8 marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. Today we can express our deep respect to the mothers and at the same time to all those who have suffered, regardless what uniform they had to wear during the war," President Rüütel said.
In his address to the mothers, President Rüütel said: "Mother is the giver and beginning of life. Mother together with her child is like two sides of a whole where without one the other cannot exist. Without mothers and their children the people would disappear and life would vanish. Mother unifies the family; she is the protector of home and the shaper of mentality. Life, love and balance start from the mother.
If mother means the beginning, then the war means the end. The war destroys lives; it brings sufferings to nations and leaves pain and hatred in the souls of people. Sons and daughters who have perished in war mean never-healing wounds in mother's soul. Therefore, there is nobody else who is more against war than the mother. The mother and war are antipodes forever. But as a whole consists of the unity of antipodes, an end marks a new beginning. The mothers have always restored and beautified the land devastated by war and empty homes."
 The Head of state thanked all those who have attached importance to their family both in deeds and in thoughts. "Certainly, the meaning of Mother's Day is that life has to continue, that instead of decreasing in number there would be more of us. And that mothers would cope - this is the concern of the whole of Europe and the world. Here, first of all, we think of peace that our families, homes and the whole country need," President Rüütel said.
President Rüütel and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel today at Kadriorg will host an afternoon coffee party for mothers of large families. A group photograph will be taken of the attendees.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 8, 2005
|
| |
|
vpk.ee
