Remembering our past as individuals, a nation and a country is the guarantee of our resolve, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said on August 20 in Kadriorg, at the reception organised to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's independence.

"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.


Office of the President
Public Relations Department

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