1000 military and civilian participants from across Lithuania were expected to join the tribute run.
After registration the participants were transported to the scratch-line on the auxiliary runway. The run was announced open by F-15C Eagle fighter jets of the U.S. Air Contingent currently conducting the Baltic Air Policing mission while C-27J Spartan transport aircraft of the Lithuanian Air Force gave a wing salute to the runners.
Following the run the participants and guests were able to view a display of aircraft and light weaponry of the Lithuanian Air Force and the U.S. Air Contingent performing NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. The guests and participants were entertained by the Lithuanian Air Force Band.
The event took place in the presence of Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, Commander Lithuanian Air Force Major General Edvardas Mazeikis, Latvian, Turkish and Hungarian ambassadors in Lithuania and Defence Attache of the Czech Republic Colonel Zdenek Kubicek. Representatives from different units of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian armed forces and paramilitary services, schoolchildren, and U.S. military personnel conducting the Baltic Air Policing mission also attended.
On March 29 Lithuania celebrates its 10th anniversary of NATO membership. Our country became a member of the world's strongest defence alliance when ratification documents of the North Atlantic Treaty were deposited in Washington (U.S.A.) on 29 March 2004. NATO membership is the foundation of Lithuania's security policy. As a NATO member we are a part of a collective security system where allied solidarity, collective defence guarantees and commitments to one another are the underlying principle. Also, as a NATO member the Lithuanian Armed Forces is a part of over 2,000,000-strong NATO forces, ready to defend our country alongside its nation and the allies alike.
From the very first day of NATO membership NATO allies began protecting the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia by deploying their military air assets and personnel on NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. Over the decade of membership as many as 14 NATO member states have rotated their air contingents 34 times to ensure that the Baltic airspace in protected. Our allies respond immediately to the changes in security situation. The United States of America have sent additional 6 fighter jets to augment the Baltic Air Policing mission currently conducted by a U.S. Air Contingent, while Denmark, the United Kingdom and France have expressed an intent to do so in the future. Lithuania is ready to render all the necessary Host Nation Support for incoming forces in the event of necessity.
