The Latvian Legion’s Day in Latvia began to be celebrated in 1990 with a march to the Brethren Cemetery. However, the procession starting at Riga’s Freedom Monument dates back to 1993.
Between 1998 and 2000, the Latvian Legion’s Day was included in the list of the Baltic country’s officially celebrated days. A spokesman for the Legion is determined to keep the annual commemoration alive.
“For the time being, without knowing or understanding our people’s history, or their being infected by cowardice, Latvia’s legislators deny the status of the Waffen SS Legion’s they deserve.
Today, when these anti-Bolshevik legionnaires, due to age and ill-health remain fewer, it is important to take the baton to the shoulder of the Freedom Monument with them to continue to honour the heroism of the Latvian Legion each year.
It has been said that the heroes of World War II could be mentioned on the 11th of November by Latvian legionnaires and members of other wars. Unfortunately, this is what our ex-president V. V. Freiberga thinks.”
Michael Walsh, who regularly visits Latvia says, “the former Latvian president was a World War II émigré fleeing the American-armed Red Army. After settling in Canada, she returned to her native Latvia but only after the Soviets was ousted in 1990.
The Latvian Legion’s spokesman added: “This would cause confusion in the sense of historical events, not only for young people, because the question of what is Lāčplēsis Day is often quite curious.
However, the most important thing is that we will pass on to our future soldiers, Latvia, their conscience. Other peoples who do not have such a military success as that of the Latvian Waffen SS are hesitant to glorify their heroes, and their modest feats are often exaggerated.
“Right there, we can be proud of the fact that Latvian soldiers have shown the best achievements in many and different battles since ancient times. Therefore, it is only in good faith, with gratitude, to pay tribute to the accomplishments of our soldiers on the dates when it has occurred or which event participants themselves have chosen as a remarkable day. So we will draw strength from the inheritance of our father and elders. To remind yourself and your friends that we are allies, not the defenders, to build a monument on the highway in the fortress of Kurzeme.
The troops of the Latvian Waffen SS were last divisions to resist the Red Army’s invasion of Europe in 1944 – 1945. Against overwhelming odds, the Waffen SS division took the brunt of the fighting and continued to engage the Red Army even after Berlin had fallen and the German armed forces (not the elected government) capitulated.
SOURCE (https://europeansworldwide.wordpress.com/2019/03/03/latvian-legions-heroes-day-march-16/)