Other events in Baltic States

On 26-27 September, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas attended commemoration of the 80th anniversary of a Lithuanian pilot's, Feliksas Vaitkus' flight over the Atlantic Ocean in Ballinrobe (Ireland), the National Defence Ministry reported BC.

"I am very happy that Lithuanians in Ireland pursue the heroic campaign of one of our most outstanding pilots in the Lithuanian aviation history: the name of Lithuania is proudly glorified in Ireland by building and cherishing traditions of Lithuanian people's sense of community and by making a significant contribution to make the heritage of Vaitkus a firm bond between the nations of Lithuania and Ireland," Minister Olekas said prior to leaving for the commemoration.

On 25-27 September, Lithuanian community in Ireland held the ninth We Still Want Wings festival in the town of Ballinrobe, western part of Ireland. The festival featured the unveiling of a monument, a smaller copy of the plane Lituanica II designed by Lithuania's International Heraldry Foundation for the 80th anniversary of the flight, which took place on 26 September. On the next day of the festival, a holy mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Church of Ballinrobe.

The festival took place in the town where Vaitkus landed after flying over the Atlantic Ocean in Lituanica II in 1935. Local residents still recall the day when adverse weather conditions prevented the second try of Lithuanians to reach Kaunas from New York by air over their living area. Even though Lituanica II came down in an emergency landing, it made Vaitkus the sixth pilot to fly over the Atlantic in a single-engine plane.

The festival co-organised by the Lithuanian Embassy in Ireland, Lithuanian community in Ireland and Lithuania's International Heraldry Foundation.