Estonia's pre-WWII president remembered at birthplace
23.02.2008
TALLINN, Feb 23, BNS - About a hundred people gathered at Tahkurand in Parnu County on Saturday to remember the role of Konstantin Pats, Estonia's persident before World War II, in the proclamation of the Republic of Estonia 90 years ago.
Present with their flag at the gathering was a representation from the student society Fraternitas Estica, of which Konstantin Pats was honorary member since the years he studied law at Tartu University.
Songs were sung by children's choirs from local schools, the regional daily Parnu Postimees reported.
A wreath sent by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves was laid to the foot of the monument standing at the birthplace of Konstantin Pats. A wreath was laid on behalf of the Parnu County Government and a speech made by Deputy County Governor Heiki Magi. The city government of Parnu was represented by Vice Mayor Vambo Talu.
MP Trivimi Velliste, chairman of the Konstantin Pats Museum Foundation, stressed in his speech that Konstantin Pats was the most important of the founders of the Estonian state.
It was on Feb. 23, 1918, on the 44th birthday of Konstantin Pats, that the independence manifesto of Estonia was read out publicly for the first time, from the balcony of the Endla Theater in Parnu.
On the following day Estonia's independence was proclaimed in Tallinn.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8832, sise@bns.ee
 
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