In commemoration of the Day of Genocide of Lithuanian Jews, President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus awarded Life Saving Cross to 55 persons who were saving Jewish people from Nazi genocide during World War II.

"Today we recall those Righteous who joined, even in the face of high threat and without any fear, in the fight for freedom, human life and dignity," the President said addressing the people gathered for the event.

The President deplored that memories of these painful events were fading with years and underlined the need to preserve memories of this tragic past as heritage for future generations to make sure that they are not indifferent to the Holocaust. 

"Today we see an increasing hatred for other nationalities and individual groups of the society.  But I believe that our joint effort will overcome these adversities and we will manage to live together with our co-nationals who have their own traditions and culture and who preserve and cherish their unique identity. I am confident that you and the people around you also cherished this hope when you were serving the humanity and saving persecuted Jews, their lives and dignity", President Adamkus said.

The Head of State expressed deep respect and sincere thanks to savers of Jews. "You have always been Lithuania's moral face because you have preserved the most beautiful traditions of tolerance and understanding which were among the guiding principles of the nations living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which were striving for peaceful life and well-being for their country and the State", the President said.

Today, State decorations were awarded to as many as eighteen persons who have helped to save more than one family from death. "This shows that Jews, citizens of Lithuania, were being saved not by individual persons but by joint efforts of the many Righteous", the President said. The State award was also extended to one of the oldest witnesses of the then events, 102 years old Marė Sasnauskienė.

President Adamkus wished all nations living in Lithuania to share their confidence, openness and the most important human values.