During the recent tragic loss of four brave American Soldiers in a training accident in Lithuania, that small nation and NATO ally stepped up and showed why it, and her Baltic neighbors, are some of the best friends that the United States could ever have.
When SSG Troy Knutson-Collins, SSG Jose Duenez, Jr, SSG Edvin Franco, and PFC Dante Taitano, first became missing, it was as if the entire nation of Lithuania shut down. Their disappearance on a training exercise through the Lithuanian swamps was covered without fail across Lithuanian media outlets and with great frequency. Additionally, Lithuania lent whatever manpower and equipment that they could to recover the vehicles and, most importantly, the soldiers. A Mass was held in the Vilnius Cathedral, carried on nationwide television, where Lithuanians and Americans prayed for the missing Soldiers.
When the deceased soldiers were ultimately found along with their vehicle, Lithuania went into deep mourning. Hundreds of Lithuanians went to the U.S. Embassy, many of them carrying American flags. When the hearses containing the remains of the four soldiers passed through Vilnius on their way to the airport, thousands of Lithuanians lined the streets to say farewell and thank you.
Many of those Lithuanians were also carrying American flags, including many school children who were let out for the occasion. Significantly the population of Vilnius is but 600,000. The thousands of people that did come out to say thank you and express their love for the U.S. soldiers is all the more significant considering how few people, comparatively, there are in Lithuania as opposed to the United States.
Lithuanians are even crowdfunding to support the families of our departed heroes, raising well over 200,000 Euros thus far.
It has been common and necessary to point out the shortcomings of Europe, especially Western Europe, with their buying Russian oil while saying the United States should be doing more to help Ukraine amongst other issues such as NATO target spending. Yet, one set of nations that are largely exempt from that are those that most recently, and perhaps most greatly, suffered under Russian rule during the days of communism: Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Other than the United States, these nations have the highest GDP rates of defense spending in NATO. The Baltics have cut off Russian energy and refuse to do business with the Russians, despite it potentially being easier to get energy from a closer source.
It is worth noting that while most of the nations of Eastern Europe gained or regained their freedom in 1989, it took another two years for the Baltic States to break free from Russian oppression. Even Gorbachev, considered a moderate Soviet leader by Western standards, used force to try and keep the Baltic states as part of the communist empire.
Yet, against great odds, these nations persisted and they regained their independence in 1991. They know what freedom means and that is why they put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting Ukraine, NATO spending, and honoring our brave American Soldiers.
With their great faith, high defense spending in NATO, stance against enemies in the East, and a genuine heart displayed, you are much more than an ally. You are making a huge moral difference in the world.
Thank you, Lithuania. We will never forget our fallen heroes. And may we never forget you.
*Views expressed in this article are those of the author and not any government agency.
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