Monument to the War of Independence in Nõva
Memorial site

Foto: Rain Viltrop
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 Nõva küla kirikuaed, Lääne-Nigula vald, Estija, Läänemaa
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The first monument was unveiled in the village of Nõva on 9 September 1928 to commemorate those from the municipality  who had fallen or gone missing in the War of Independence. It was a Vasalemma limestone cenotaph with a pediment, mounted on a plinth and crowned with a Latin cross. The monument was destroyed by Soviet occupying forces some time before World War II. It was unveiled anew on 6 August 1989. During the restoration work, two cenotaphs naming those killed in World War II and victims of communism were added to the memorial. The original monument also had the names of those killed in World War I inscribed on it.

The metal wreaths which had once been placed at the foot of the memorial were recovered from the attic of the cemetery chapel in spring 2018. The partially preserved ribbon on one of the wreaths reads: "…fallen soldiers, commemorated by the faithful of Nõva."

It is likely to have been a wreath brought for the unveiling on 9 September 1928 by the congregation in Nõva. The other wreath – laurel branches with silver-edged leaves and one predominant flower – resembles the one depicted in an old photo.

Used sources and references:

National Heritage Board registry of cultural monuments. https://register.muinas.ee/public.php?menuID=monument&action=view&id=27141

https://arhiiv2019.laanlane.ee/2018/07/22/nova-vabadussoja-malestussamba-ajaloolised-metallparjad-ootavad-taastamist/