Lithuania Held A Ceremony To Mark The 100th Anniversary Of Former President Valdas Adamkus

• 3.11.2026, 23:43

The guest of honor was also present.

Lithuania celebrated the 100th anniversary of former President Valdas Adamkus.

When Adamkus took the stage at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater, where the ceremony was held, the audience greeted him with applause and chants of gratitude, according to Delfi.lt.

Valdas Adamkus stated that in the struggle for the freedom of the people and the state, he would have achieved nothing without the support of the Lithuanian people.

“I look at you with gratitude for the fact that we are together today. And for the fact that at various stages of life, you were by my side—working, fighting for Lithuania’s freedom, and building our nation,” said the former president of Lithuania

He noted that throughout his life he had often reflected on how history influences a person, and how a person can influence the course of history. According to Adamkus, the events of the mid-20th century—the Soviet, Nazi, and subsequent Soviet occupations of Lithuania—had the greatest impact on his life.

Even in his youth, he understood the value of freedom, and this became the foundation of his life’s convictions. Adamkus emphasized that he strove to defend his own freedom, that of his people, and that of his country. He cited the people with whom he has had the opportunity to collaborate—both in the past and present—as his main source of support.

The former president thanked everyone with whom he had walked the Lithuanian path, and addressed the youth in particular. He recalled that he had often asked young people: if not them, then who would build the future of their homeland and strengthen it on the basis of freedom and democracy? Adamkus thanked those who answer this question through their daily work.

He made a special mention of his wife Alma Adamkienė, who passed away in May 2023 at the age of 96 and with whom Valdas Adamkus had shared 72 years of his life. Adamkus called her God’s greatest gift and a blessing from fate. In his words, together they traveled a long journey through life, one that was not without its difficulties and trials.

Valdas Adamkus was born on November 3, 1926, in Kaunas. In July 1944, he left for Germany with his parents and studied natural sciences at the University of Munich.

In 1949, Adamkus moved to the United States. In the 1960s, he became actively involved in civic and political activities, and later began working at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He also played an active role in the civic and political life of the Lithuanian diaspora.

After Lithuania regained its independence, Valdas Adamkus returned to his homeland and was elected president twice—first in 1998 and then in 2004.