Awarding of the 7th Sigulda Infantry Regiment in bermontiad, awarding of the great soldier Valija Veščūnas with the Lāčplēsis War Order in Alūksne

V. Veščuna-Jansone. 20.gs. 20. gadu sākums, Rīga. K. Iltnera fotostudija. Meitas Aretas Jansones īpašums. Avots: lv100.lv

After the Latvian War of Independence, the great soldier Valija Veščunas was awarded the Lāčplēsis War Order for the November 19, 1919 battles with the Bermontians at the Plan House. Valija Veshchun was one of the first to cross the Lielupe under the fire of the enemy.

"I already knew how to shoot, and it was in 1919 in Spilve meadows. During this time our regiments had multiplied. We hid from enemy bullets behind the hoods of the wall. I don't know if someone was hit or not, but that's not the point. Even with the thought that a Latvian soldier might be injured, my heart was too much. I had already had to see the wounded, and that also provoked my hatred of Bermont and his gossip gang. Unconscious dissatisfaction with the insecure existence, of course, existed in the past, now it has materialized. I also had an understanding of the necessity and significance of the establishment of a permanent Latvian state. Bermont walked ahead of us, looted everything, but every soldier had a wife, children or parents, relatives at home, who had their mouths cut off. The Bermontians, coming to a foreign land, felt responsible only for their existence and their stomachs. We were responsible for the continued existence of our homeland and people, for the future of this small patch of land. Yes, then we drive them to the Stone. We simply did not allow the idea that we could lose, and so we won.

Our 7th Sigulda Infantry Regiment had settled near Aluksne. The ceremony itself (presentation of the Lāčplēsis War Order) took place in about this way. The troops had lined up in the square, the order was awarded by the President of Latvia Čakste. I was invited to Alūksne Castle, where a festive lunch was held. After that, we watched the troop debts through the windows of Alūksne Castle. I only remember a few who were with me - Colonel Frickaus, his wife. ”

LNVM virtual exhibition "Knight of the Lāčplēsis War Order - Valerija Valija Veščuna-Jansone" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtOtskNlhZQ

Storyteller: Valija Valerija Veščunas-Jansone; Wrote down this story: Ralfs Vilands
Used sources and references:

Memories of Valija Valeria Veschun-Jansone. // Ralph Vilands. She was sixteen. Jūrmala, March 30, 1989, No. 13.
Aluksne Museum
LNVM virtual exhibition "Knight of the Lāčplēsis War Order - Valerija Valija Veščuna-Jansone" http://lnvm.lv/?p=12079
https://www.la.lv/skukis-kas-nebijas-naves

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