On 18 November 2019, marking the Independence Day, the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, will host award ceremony in Riga Castle to present the state honours - the Order of Three Stars, Order of Viesturs and Cross of Recognition - to 74 members of the society.
According to the decision of the President of Latvia and Chapter of Orders of 18 October 2019, specific service of these members of the society to Latvia will be recognised by bestowing 31 Three-Star Order, 9 Order of Viesturs and 34 Crosses of Recognition.
The highest state honours are used to recognise merit in terms of professional achievements, lifetime contribution and other notable deeds. The Highest state honours are Latvia's way of paying respect to those who have either worked for the benefit of our state or its reputation.
2019 is a special year for the highest state awards. 95 years ago, on 25 March 1924, the first President of Latvia, Jānis Čakste, issued the law on Three-Star Order which was established to mark the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. Two other orders, the Order of Viesturs and the Cross of Recognition, were introduced in 1938.
On 25 October 1994, the President of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis promulgated the Three-Star Order Law thus restoring the award established in 1924. While serving as the Minister for Justice in 1994, the President of Latvia Egils Levits was one of those who supported the initiative for restoration of the Three-Star Order. Two other awards, the Order of Viesturs and the Cross of Recognition, were restored in 2004.
More detailed information about the highest state honours and procedures for awarding of the orders is available on the web-page the Chancery of the President of Latvia.
Alide Forstmanis
For my work, since 2008 as treasurer and past chair, of the Canadian charitable organization "Tribute to Liberty", with its objective to have a Memorial to Victims of Communism built in Ottawa, I am proud to announce that I will receive a Three Star Order medal. It will be a great honour and joy for me to attend the award ceremony in Riga, Latvia, and receive the medal from the President.
In Canada, over 8 million people trace their roots to countries, among them Latvia, that suffered under Communism. Since the beginning of the first Communist regime in 1917, immigrants from Communist countries have flocked to Canada in search of freedom and safety.
The Memorial to the Victims of Communism will memorialize the experience of millions of Canadians who suffered as a result of Communism. It will serve as a reminder of these and all the victims of Communism, and will be part of the effort to educate the world about the horrors of Communist regimes.
The construction will start any day, and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2020 and unveiled shortly thereafter.
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