The Lasting Legacy of the Baltic Way

Liepa Boberienė.

Few moments in history capture the essence of human determination and solidarity as vividly as the Baltic Way. On August 23, 1989, this momentous event not only hastened the demise of our Soviet occupiers but also sparked a worldwide movement for freedom. It serves to this day as the ultimate example for our children, demonstrating what the human spirit can achieve and what special responsibilities we as Lithuanians must foster, cherish, and drive forward.

That day, ordinary Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians came together in an awe-inspiring human chain – from Vilnius, through Riga, to Tallinn – in a display of unprecedented multinational harmony. For 35 years, this celebration of our unique yet kindred Baltic cultures has motivated our people and will continue to invigorate freedom fighters across the world.

Exactly 50 years prior, on August 23, 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact aimed to seal the fates of the free Baltic republics. These secret decisions made between revanchist powers became the inescapable backdrop of our collective existence.

For decades, the Baltic people endured the heavy burden of Soviet oppression, many resisting this tyranny in their individual ways. Though the Soviets set up puppet governments, tried to stifle our cultural identities, and deported hundreds of thousands to Siberian labor camps, each freedom-loving individual preserved the hope of our glorious restoration of independence.

This preservation and propagation were the essential ingredients for what was to come. The mighty Baltic people were about to reclaim that pivotal date for ourselves, to transform the loss of our freedom into the restoration of it, and to forge it into a lasting celebration of our defining national characteristic: to be eternal beacons of liberty and self-determination.

So, as the 50th anniversary of the fateful date in 1939 approached, the Lithuanian Sąjūdis, Latvian Tautas Fronte, and Estonian Rahvarinne joined together in petitioning for sovereignty. They carefully coordinated the Baltic Way through social and professional networks, partnering with regional organizations and local police to control traffic, arrange foreign media participation, and organize bus transportation for different regions to be evenly distributed throughout the human chain. They achieved this using only broadcast radio and walkie-talkies, with telephone service suddenly disconnected.

When the time came, the organizers hoped to summon the eternal flames each freedom-loving Baltic person had maintained in their hearts. Whole families – people from all ages and walks of life – an estimated 1,000,000 Lithuanians, 400,000 Latvians, and 700,000 Estonians – joined hands in a demonstration of unparalleled unity. This was the longest contiguous human chain ever recorded, far exceeding the high expectations of the organizers.

Some people were trapped in traffic, trying to reach their designated sections, worried they wouldn’t make it in time. Vytautas Landsbergis assured his people from across the radio waves, “Don’t get distracted, don’t worry about delays. When the hour comes, get out wherever you are and join hands. We will all be together – on the Baltic Way.”

At 7 pm, an estimated 2 million people linked hands for over 400 miles, from Gediminas Tower through Riga and the river Daugava to Tall Hermann in Tallinn. It was a living, breathing symbol of resistance and hope. Planes pitched flowers down to the crowds with notes honoring the victims of Soviet deportation. Participants stood arm in arm, singing patriotic songs that had been banned for decades, echoing the hopes of their parents and grandparents, creating an extraordinary, indescribable unifying force. The radio played “Bunda Jau Baltija” (The Baltics Awaken), and each person holding hands and singing in unison felt their everlasting power.

This event proved to the world that the Kremlin’s narrative portraying a small group of fringe extremists was completely false. Millions of us demanded our natural right to self-determination be restored. Just six months later, Lithuania declared the restoration of independence on March 11, 1990, the first of the Soviet republics to do so.

The Baltic Way shall forever remind us what can be achieved through bold objectives, careful preparation, trust in one another, and an underlying devotion to the truth. Therefore, we commemorate this date for the enduring impact of such solidarity, for emboldening us to remember our obligation to each other, especially our children and grandchildren.

Teaching Future Generations

Thanks to the Baltic Way, when our young ones face a seemingly insurmountable challenge, they will know that they can still be victorious, and by what means. Foresight, perseverance, cooperation, and adaptability are seamlessly showcased in the execution of the event itself.

Our children will learn that the power of peace helped restore our independence, even though such peaceful displays do not always guarantee a peaceful conclusion. Therefore, peaceful collective action requires a durable collective backbone. This bravery, this defiant risk-taking, was exhibited by such a wide range of us, spanning all ages and backgrounds. Thanks to The Baltic Way, we have proof that the forces of oppression cannot outlast an outpouring of truthful advocates for the human condition, united by principles and courage.

As we build upon this foundation towards greater security and success, our children will see how profoundly progress can be made once we chart a course for ourselves. Our children will understand that though our countries may be small in population and geographical size, we serve our region and world as leaders. We are not only leaders in technological innovations but in safeguarding and proliferating the essential component that allows for such innovation: the cause of freedom and democratic ideals. Thanks to the Baltic Way, we can accurately see ourselves as our best selves.

We owe it to all the participants of the Baltic Way and the broader freedom movement to recognize their struggles and triumphs – so that their fight need not be repeated on such a massive scale. We can emulate them by living as proud, free, well-informed Lithuanians. Thanks to their sacrifices and achievements, our pursuit of happiness is focused upon our continued growth and prosperity, not our righteous defiance of our oppressors.

An Example to the World

But it’s not just our own children who stand to learn such enduring lessons.

Lithuania continues to lead the world in its unwavering support of self-determination and democratic ideals – from Ukraine and Belarus next door to Taiwan, Hong Kong and further around the globe. People enduring tyranny can look to the Baltic Way and know their battle is not hopeless: ordinary people joining hands, holding flowers and singing songs can undermine repressive violence and injustice.

Over the years, as Russia continued its imperialistic ambitions – in Georgia, Moldova, Syria, Ukraine – and through more covert means around the world, spending large sums of money to infiltrate politics, media, and strategic industries, we remained acutely aware of these dangers and have maintained our vigilance.

The Western power brokers in Berlin, London, Paris and Washington, D.C., often dismissed our warnings as paranoid, sensational, and outdated. These vital allies would be wise to adopt our clear vision, our historical understanding, and our unwavering devotion to the bedrock of civil society. Our vision is not driven by any unwarranted fear but by the truth of our shared experiences. We appreciate the significance of the rule of law, the peaceful transfer of power, and the consent of the governed, and we serve as a potent refresher for those allied governments who’ve enjoyed their fruits far longer than we have.

They remind us that we are always just one generation away from forgetting these important, hard-won truths.

Neringa passes the torch

This summer at Camp Neringa, we invited campers from all sessions to reflect on how they can honor the Baltic Way. We emphasized that Lithuania is a small country and each individual is essential. We encouraged campers to consider how their actions and mindset can contribute to preserving freedom.

We divided the campers into three groups representing the Baltic countries: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. They had the opportunity to interview Lina Šnipaitienė, Dana Vainauskienė, and Sister Laimutė, who were participants in the Baltic Way. Dana shared, “The Baltic Way united us in our fight for freedom. It was an unbelievably powerful moment of history, and I feel the same feeling this summer at Neringa commemorating it. It doesn’t matter which generation we represent and whether we have camped here or not – our fight for freedom unifies us into a powerful community which knows the importance of preserving Lithuanian heritage, faith, and culture.”

At one session, 16-year-old camper Gabriella Avicolli partnered with Latvian, Estonian, and Ukrainian summer camps to gather paper cut-outs of children’s hands filled with their well-wishes to their homelands in their native languages. She then wove them together into a long chain along with the Neringa campers’ hopes for Lithuania on their own hands.

In another session, children had the opportunity to safeguard their national identities in a simulated competition against the Soviets. At all sessions throughout the summer, campers participated in a recreation of the Baltic Way, holding hands from the Gediminas Tower to Tall Hermann across the campground.

In one re-enactment, Vytautas Landsbergis assured the people that we all stand united. We held our flags high and sang “Bunda Jau Baltija.” We caught flowers thrown by a helicopter flying by and held up our remembrances and gratitude to those who sacrificed for our freedom. As our voices joined together in singing our beloved patriotic songs, we could deeply feel the powerful, beautiful energy propelling us toward Lithuania’s prosperous future.

We are grateful to all of Neringa’s program coordinators: Jonas Maciunas, Vida Žiaugra Makowski, Jolita Segur, Rima Bernotas, Ramunė Keegan, Gwen Gallagher, Atiana Stemplys, Gabriella Walsh, Darius Razgaitis, Aldona Lingertat, and Eglė Šležas, as well as all the teachers that made this history come to life this summer for our children.

The Baltic Way, a modern-day event, has left a lasting imprint on our ancient and ever-growing culture, summoning the power of our collective consciousness. It also serves as a compelling blueprint for educating our children about ourselves. Yes, our heritage is strong partly because it is ancient, but our modern Baltic Way has defined us here in the present. It will continue revitalizing us if we harness its magnificent and enduring power.

Liepa Boberienė, PhD, is the Manager of Program Evaluation at Baltimore City Public Schools. She is an alumna of Neringa and works as a history teacher there. She would like to thank Vaiva Vėbra and Juozas Vėbra for dedicating their lives to Lithuania’s future.

“Draugas NEWS”, July-August 2024 edition.