Photo By Staff Sgt. Cody Harding | Citizens of Kardlu, Estonia, sit inside a HMMWV at a static display after the Victory...... read more read more
KARDLA, Estonia – Soldiers from Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and 902nd Engineer company, 15th Engineer battalion, 18th military Police Brigade took part in a Victory Day parade alongside members of the Estonian Defense League and other NATO allies in Kardla, Estonia, June 23.
Victory Day is an Estonian national holiday commemorating their victory over Baltic-German forces at the Battle of Vonnu in 1919, marking a turning point in the Estonian War of Independence. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the day also celebrates all Estonian forces who fight to retain the independence of the country.
Cpt. Jonathan Punio, commander of Charlie Company, said the U.S. presence in the parade helps the goals of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
“It shows our commitment by being there physically, as well as interoperability with our different nations and allied partners,” Punio, from Honolulu, Hawaii, said. “Being there with the Estonians is a big part of that.”
The parade consisted of services both young and old, with Boy and Girl Scouts marching in the parade beside Estonian Defense Force and EDL Soldiers, members of the police and multinational partners from Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Poland and the United States.
The parade passed through the city square, where they met with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the president of Estonia. After passing the parade stand, the President and the EDL commander met with each formation to thank them for their service to the country. To end the parade, representatives from each province met the President to light a torch, symbolizing the continuing commitment to the country, as jets from the Estonian Air Force flew overhead.
Pvt. Jonathan Jaffe, a carpenter with 902nd Company, 15th Eng. Bn., said that demonstrating the alliance between the U.S. and Estonia was a great opportunity for a young Soldier.
“Being able to get out to a foreign country and standing by them and saying that we are here with you,” Jaffe, from Silver Spring, Maryland, said. “Getting the privilege to represent the United States as a country, it's a great thing.”
After the parade, the engineers prepared a HMWWV static display, letting the Estonian people get up close and learn about the military vehicle. The display also gave an opportunity for U.S. forces and Estonian to connect and learn about one another to strengthen the alliance between the two nations.
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2015 16:00 |
| Story ID: | 167834 |
| Location: | KARDLA, EE |
| Hometown: | TALLINN, HARJUMAA, EE |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 192 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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