Partisans who fought against the invaders are honoured in Varčia Forest

On 11 June, the Alytus District Municipality Culture Centre together with the community "Varčios kaimynai" invited people to the Varčia forest, near the cross dedicated to partisans, to commemorate the memory of the partisans killed in the battles that took place between 14th and 23rd of June in 1945.
Auksutė Ramanauskaitė-Skokauskienė, the daughter of the Lithuanian partisan leader Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas, recalled the history of the freedom struggle and shared her thoughts and experiences. Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Member of the Seimas, Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence, who was present at the event, emphasised the importance of the partisan movement and the resistance to the Soviet regime: "Thanks to the municipality, which has joined the effort to ensure that the honouring of the partisans comes from the society, from the community, from itself, from its roots. This is very important for various reasons. We often look at such commemorations as a museum phenomenon, as something that has to be done out of duty, but when we look at the geopolitical events that are taking place around us right now, what is happening in Ukraine right now, it is extremely important to realise one important thing: the occupier wins not when he starts hanging foreign flags, when he starts turning over foreign monuments and erecting his own monuments to occupation, but when he breaks the will of the people to resist and defend themselves. So the partisan struggle, our resistance, and it is this particular event, this battle, this particular resistance and Adolfas Ramanauskas that inspires and obliges all of us and future generations to have the will to resist." "Thanks to the community of Varčia, which has gathered us here - at the Varča crossroads - not for the first time, the memories of Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagos have given chills to many people - we are very grateful to these people who died, who fought, they will remain in our memory for ever. I think that this event will attract more and more people." The Deputy Mayor said that the importance of the partisan struggle is especially important for the younger generation, and the municipality will consider the possibility of marking the site of the death. Rimas Petrauskas, leader of the Varčios kaimynai community, thanked all those who came to the commemoration: "It is very nice to see so many people gathered to honour those who died in battle. Everyone here, from young to old, came to honour the dead. And no matter what form it takes - just coming - it is a great honour."
The commemoration was attended by Marius Mickevičius, Member of the Alytus District Municipality Council, Laimutė Zavistauskienė, Member of the Alytus District Regional Cultural Council, Chief Specialist of the Education, Culture and Sports Department of the Alytus District Municipality Administration, and Jonas Baliukonis, Elder of Alovė eldership, Irma Kašėtienė, Elder of Daugai, Eglė Sereičikienė, Director of the Culture Centre, Vytuolis Valūnas, Head of the Education Department of the Alytus City Municipality Administration, as well as members of the Alytus Branch of the Lithuanian Army Reserve Soldiers Association, employees of institutions and companies, riflemen, young riflemen and other honoured guests.
The soldiers of the 1st Detachment of the Dainava District of the National Defence Volunteer Force fired salutes of respect to the memory of the Lithuanian partisans, a minute of silence was observed in honour of the memory of the fallen, flowers were laid and candles were lit at the cross, excerpts were read from the book of the leader of the Lithuanian partisans, Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas, entitled "Daugel krito sūnų. .." (Many sons fell), partisan songs were performed by the ensemble "Varčios kaimynai", the modern folklore group "Balti vėjai" of the Marijampolė Culture Centre, works were performed by the Lithuanian Armed Forces Air Force Orchestra, the history of the Lithuanian partisan resistance was presented by the "Miško broliai" club.
After the solemn commemoration, a 3x3 basketball competition to win the "Partizan's Cup" was held on the Varčia Forest court. Basketball teams from Makniūnai, Daugai, Alovė and Mikalavas competed for the cup. The basketball team from Makniūnai won the first place in the competition and was awarded the "Partizan Cup". The first and third place winners were awarded medals, diplomas and symbolic commemorative gifts were presented to all participants of the basketball matches.
The project of the Alytus District Municipality Culture Centre - the commemoration "Varčia aplaistyta Varčia" project is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Alytus District Municipality.