"There is one organisation that always spoke of the future while looking to the past and helped lead us to freedom. I have the most exceptional honour to present this year's President's Independence Restoration memorial stone – a piece of the barricade that formed a defence at Toompea during those anxious August nights back in 1991 – to Trimivi Velliste, the Chairman of Estonian Heritage Society.
In previous years, the President's Independence Restoration memorial stone has been awarded to Heinz Valk, whose famous phrase united Estonia – "one day, no matter what, we will win", freedom fighter Lagle Parek; the defenders of Tallinn Television Tower in August 1991: Peeter Milli, Jaanus Kokk, Uno Kaseväli and Jüri Joost; authors of patriotic songs, Jüri Leesment and Alo Mattiisen (posthumously); and those who voted for restoring Estonia's independence at the Supreme Council on 20 August 1991.
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