The airplane Lituanica, piloted by Steponas Darius ir Stasys Girėnas, crashed on 17 July 1933. The flight - dedicated and devoted to Lithuania - lasted 37 hours and 11 minutes. The planned route had to cover a total of 7,186 kilometers. When the aircraft went down, Darius and Girėnas were only 775 km short of their goal.
The President emphasized that the two pilots were among the first to cross the Atlantic, building a bridge between Europe and America and bringing Lithuanians across the world together.
"The achievement of the conquerors of the Atlantic turned a small nation into a great one. The memory of the heroes and their flight has incorporated the history of Lithuania with today and the future. I wish that this historic event continues to inspire us all to promote Lithuania by words and deeds," the President said.
Eighty years ago, Steponas Darius ir Stasys Girėnas flew a small plane across the Atlantic Ocean, making their way into history and sending a message about Lithuania to the world. The President underlined that the flight of Lituanica was an act of courage, love and commitment to Homeland.
Dalia Grybauskaitė wished good luck to the runners starting the traditional race "Soldin-Kaunas". The runners will cover 775 kilometers, the distance from the site where Lituanica crashed to its final destination. The President also attended the holy mass celebrated at St. James' Cathedral in Szczecin and laid a wreath at the memorial plaque to Darius and Girėnas.
President Grybauskaitė presented letters of gratitude to 12 Polish citizens who take care of the Memorial to Darius and Girėnas and who promote their names and memory.
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