2019

The Memorial Site in Rušenica has been Arranged and Put in Order

Commemorating the 99th anniversary of Latgale Freedom Battles, a remembrance event was held in Rušenica, Rēzekne Municipality Freimaņi Rural Territory, in mid-January. Referring to the request of war veterans and understanding the significance of the historical events, at the end of last year JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) completed its work on the arranging of the memorial site. (Pictures by Diāna Selecka)

“Antons Cauņa, National Guard 32nd Infantry Battalion Veteran Sergeant Major, drew attention to the fact that there was a forgotten obelisk for Latgalian freedom fighters - Jelgava 3rd Infantry - in the territory of Latvia’s state forests. Understanding the significance of the historical events, we decided to put this memorial site in order. In less than a year, we carried out the arranging works in the forest: we made landscape felling around the monument and created a trail with wooden steps to make the way to the memorial place more comfortable and safer for visitors,” says Dainis Rudzītis, Head of LVM Ziemeļlatgale Region Forest Management Planning.

National Guard 32nd Infantry Battalion Veteran Sergeant Major Antons Cauņa who was awarded the Order of Viesturs (Class II) last year, believes that Latgale Freedom Battles should never be forgotten: “In the past, the obelisk stood on the edge of the old road, but since the new Rēzekne – Daugavpils highway was built, the monument was left neglected because it was no longer visible from the road. Trees have been cut down, steps have been installed and, thanks to the support of the local government, an informative sign has been placed. I am very pleased with what has been done, but we will continue to work - we will clean the forest so that it does not overgrow, we will hold events to tell about our history.

On 16 January 1920, Jelgava 3rd Infantry Regiment won fierce battles against Bolshevik troops in this place; to honour this, a memorial obelisk with the text “Battlefield of Jelgava 3rd Infantry Regiment in straggles for Latgale. On 1920.16. I, we brought sun, freedom and independence for Latvia” was set up here.

LVM maintains and manages more than 350 free recreational sites throughout Latvia. A total of 34 local residents' favourite holiday and memorial sites in state forests were surveyed and restored in LVM Northern Latgale Region in 2018. Thanks to the initiative of residents and managers of Viļaka Municipality Susāji Rural Territory, the memorial place of Latvian national partisan settlements and battles in Stompaki Bog has become more accessible. The construction of wooden footpaths was organised in four stages of the kilometre-long trail to make it easier to cross the wet and swampy spots. Throughout the trail, benches and garbage bins were set up.