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U.S. Veterans’ Day Ceremony in Lithuania

9 November 2005

Media event: Friday, 11 November 2005, 10.00 a.m., Macikai village cemetery, Silute region.

Correction: The minute of silence will not be followed by a flyover by F-16 aircraft, as has been previously announced.

On Friday, November 11, 2005, at 10.00 a.m. the U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull, Lithuanian Minister of Defense Gediminas Kirkilas and members of the United States Defense Attaché Office from the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius will participate in the Veterans’ Day ceremony at the U.S. Airmen gravesite in Macikai village cemetery in Silute region.

The guests will be welcomed by an honor guard consisting of Lithuanian sailors and airmen and members of the United States Air Force 52nd Fighter Wing detachment, currently deployed to Zokniai airbase in Siauliai on a NATO air policing mission.  Ambassador Mull and Minister Kirkilas will make short speeches and lay wreaths. The minute of silence will be followed by a flyover by USAF fighters.

The ceremony will honor three United States Army Air Corps Airmen who were shot down, captured and held at Stalag Luft 6, a Nazi Prisoner of War camp outside of Macikai during World War II. Staff Sergeant George B. Walker, Staff Sergeant Walter Nies and Technical Sergeant William F. Teaff died while in captivity and now rest near the site of the old camp. The ceremony will honor these men who served their country with dignity and valor.