The commemoration of Lithuanian Military and Society Day at Paliesius Manor served as a living bridge between past and present, uniting the nation’s military, academic, and cultural communities. Just as in 1935, when Military and Society Day was first celebrated in Kaunas, this year’s gathering once again brought together the people of Lithuania, drawn by a shared desire to strengthen the state not only through arms, but through knowledge and enduring values.
Source: Lrytas.lt
During the event, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Lithuanian Defense, Culture, and Education Association (LGKŠA) and Mykolas Romeris University. Signing the agreement, the university’s Vice-Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saulius Spurga emphasized:
“Science is the foundation of our state. We are delighted that the Mykolas Romeris University community can become a partner of the LGKŠA and jointly contribute to the comprehensive strengthening of Lithuania—intellectually, culturally, and civically.”
A cooperation agreement was also renewed between the LGKŠA and the Lithuanian Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command. Brigadier General Modestas Petrauskas invited everyone to rethink the name of the celebration:
“We should treat it as Military–Society Day, because the military is an inherent part of our society. The conjunction ‘and’ here separates what ought not to be separated.” Prof. Eugenijus Laurinaitis, Vice-President of the LGKŠA, emphasized that defense is not merely a weapon, but also intellect, awareness, and civic will:
“Education is our first line of defense—not instead of a weapon, but alongside it. Only when a person knows what they are defending do they do so not out of command, but out of conviction.”
These thoughts were further reinforced by the words of Jurandas Rusteika, founder of the Lithuanian Defense, Culture, and Education Association, which define the vision of the entire community:
“We need a deep sense of self-awareness—who we are, why we are here, and whom we serve. Therefore, education, culture, and defense must not be separate spheres, but one shared mission. Only then will we build a resilient, conscious, and patriotic society.” The gathering at Paliesius Manor embraced not only strategic discussions but also a rich cultural experience. The festive program featured performances by chamber music prima donna Judita Leitaitė, opera soloists Karolina Glinskaitė and Jonas Sakalauskas, and pianist Anastasija Šumskaitė. The event was hosted by Adrijana Balsytė.
The Lithuanian Defense, Culture, and Education Association, together with its partners, seeks to continue uniting institutions and communities—so that Lithuania’s culture of defense remains inseparable from its education and civic self-awareness.
Prof. Laurinaitis summarized:
“Defense is not a single person with a weapon—it is an entire nation, ready to protect what it holds dear: freedom, language, culture, truth. And for that, we need people who are both courageous and educated.”