Address by Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki for the national parade on the Independence Day of Finland 2024

Esteemed veterans of our wars, esteemed representatives of the veterans’ generation, ladies and gentlemen.

Today we celebrate the Independence Day of Finland in Lappeenranta. Since its founding, Lappeenranta has served as a significant hub in commerce and logistics. For the past 375 years, it has been a military-strategically significant site. Due to its location, it has often been on the frontline during major changes in history, from the times under the Swedish rule, to the previous wars, to present day.

During the most previous war, the local population in Lappeenranta sustained major losses. In June 1944, the railway junction station of what is now the village of Simola was under heavy bombing for two days. At the time, no definite information on the number of victims was available. According to present-day estimates, this bombing was among the most destructive ones in the Continuation War claiming the lives of altogether 150 locals, with an equal number of residents sustaining injuries. Tangible signs of the destruction are still palpable in the buildings that stand on site.  These events were bound to have been ingrained in the memory of those who had to live through this all. Today we remain thankful to You, and all representatives of Your generation, for carrying on, coping, and building the possibility for a good life for us all.

Unfortunately, over the past years, we have been forced to witness that the events of Simola are still possible. I visited Ukraine to witness the destruction caused by the ongoing offensive war of Russia. What I saw strengthens my conviction of the importance of comprehensive national defence and a strong will to defend, and of us having a functioning basis for how we can do this together.

The effects of the war that continues can be seen all the way here in Lappeenranta. Alongside an all-out war, the means utilised for destabilising society and harassment are nowadays virtually endless.  The eastern border crossing points were closed due to irregular immigration entry activated by Russia more than a year ago. This has affected the everyday life of people and vibrancy of the region.

Thanks to global coverage of media communications and information efforts, news on wars and catastrophes reach us all. In the midst of this influx it is necessary for all of us Finns to keep in mind that there is no military threat to Finland at the moment. But we take precautions and prepare together to prevent the threat from realising in the future. Let us all improve our own readiness to cope in disturbance situations, under exceptional circumstances, and in a military conflict.

Here up north, deterrence and defence rest on Finland’s own defence capability, long-term development of our forces and materiel, the plans drawn up jointly in NATO, and implementation drilling with forces of NATO and allied nations.

It is worth to recall that our allies expect that we Finns still remain responsible for defending our land – which is why in Finland we take military precautions and prepare in co-operation with other agencies, the business sector, and with every Finn to safeguard security in our society. 

One way of conducting co-operation is joint drilling that gives practical expression to the task at hand. Finnish Soldiers, conscripts and reservists alike, have been actively training with the Alliance’s forces for over two years. Troops from NATO member nations are now part of everyday life in the Finnish Defence Forces and of locals at training exercise grounds.

This past November was productive in all services both as regards staffs and troops undertaking training. At Rovajärvi, the Army led the exercise Dynamic Front relevant in NATO interoperability with its focus on development of the Alliance’s joint fires.  Meanwhile, the Navy conducted a maritime drill in southern Finland and in the waters of the northern Baltic Sea attended by both the Standing NATO Maritime Groups. The Air Force participated by substantial input in the multinational air defence exercise at Lohtaja. During the autumn, the Air Force also attended a number of relevant exercises held abroad.

Esteemed veterans of our wars, esteemed veterans of our veterans’ generation, ladies and gentlemen.

Security is sustained together. By providing help and support to those who most need it. By being patient during minor disturbance situations in everyday life.  By critically assessing the information that we are offered. By being aware of how everyone is responsible for sustaining society. By continuing to be competent and skilled and ensuring that the necessary resources are available in case of crisis and disturbance situations. All Finns are needed. There is a suitable task for everybody. This is how the previous generations operated in a changing world. Now is our turn.

Soldiers, let us raise a three-fold Long Live to Independent Fatherland.

Long Live – Long Live – Long Live!