National Parade on the Finnish Independence Day in Lappeenranta

The Independence Day festivities will start by a flag-raising ceremony and gun-salute at the Fortress. At Katariina square, the flag will be hoisted by Cadets of the Infantry School.

The gun-salute will be fired by a 76mm field gun dating back to the era of horse-towed field artillery, towed and operated by the heritage detachment of Niinisalo Equestrians and Kankaanpää Region Artillery Guild.

The ceremony will be addressed by Commandant of the Army Academy, Colonel Janne Mäkitalo. 

The wreath-laying ceremony will be conducted at the Grave of a Fallen Soldier at Memorial Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers of Lappeenranta on the Independence Day.

The wreath of the Finnish Defence Forces and City of Lappeenranta by Commandant of the Army Academy, Colonel Janne Mäkitalo, Cadet SSG Leo Hintsala, and Chair of Lappeenranta City Council Board, Mr Joonas Grönlund.

Music will be performed by the Dragoon Band and Choir of Kaukaa Singers.

The equipment field will be available for visitors at Satamatori square during 09-16.

The equipment field will offer familiarisation with equipment and activity of the Finnish Defence Forces, and other agencies including the Finnish Border Guard, Police, Customs, and Rescue Department. Also, the National Defence Training Association of Finland will be available. The association provides training for reservists of all combat arms and everyone interested in learning more about security-related skills and competence.

The Soldier’s Home canteen will have their sales points available in the area.

The equipment display will offer familiarisation with versatile equipment and kit.

The Finnish Defence Forces’ equipment display will include, among other:

Main battle tank Leopard 2A6, heavy rocket launcher MLRS, armoured howitzer K9, weapon locating radar, miniature unmanned aerial systems MUAS, surface-to-air missile 12 NASAMS II FIN launcher, tactical land vehicle SISU GTP 4x4, armoured personnel carrier Patria XA-360 and infantry fighting vehicle CV9030.

For familiarisation with the equipment in more detail, see the catalogue at:

https://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/equipment

Welcome!

On the Independence Day, Lutheran Service will be ministered at Lutheran Lappee Parish Church of St Mary from 10:00 onwards by the Evangelical Lutheran Parish of Lappeenranta in co-operation with the Army Academy. The sermon will be delivered by Military Chaplain Jani Mäkitalo. The liturgy will be presided by Vicar of Lappee Parish, Rev. Mika Lehtola, and the parish cantor musician will be Ms Riina Tölli. 

Music will be performed by the Dragoon Band.

The Lutheran Service can also be followed on the YouTube -channel of Lappee Parish. 

The review of troops will start at Kimpinen stadium at 12, and it is advisable for the public to arrive on site well in advance. The Utti Jaeger Regiment’s NH90 transport helicopter will fly over the stadium area at 11:15, and the parade troops will align to position for the review of troops from 11:30 onwards.

The review of troops will be reviewed by Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki. The parade troops will be commanded by the Finnish Army Chief of Operations, Brigadier General Sami-Antti Takamaa. The field devotional will be held by Senior Military Chaplain of the Army Sanna Timonen.

The music in the review of troops will be the responsibility of the Dragoon Band in co-operation with Choir of Kaukaan Laulumiehet and Choir of METKU. The review of troops will be moderated to the public by journalist Jukka Lindström.

Review of troops 

A. Receiver of the parade
B. Commander of the parade troops
C. Senior Military Chaplain
 
1. Women’s National Defence Union
2. Women’s National Emergency Preparedness Association of Finland 
3. Peace Keepers’ Association of Finland 
4. National Defence Training Association of Finland
5. Soldier’s Home Association
6. Massed Standards of National Defence Associations
7. South Karelia Regional Defence Company
8. Finnish Border Guard, Border and Coast Guard Academy
9. Utti Jaeger Regiment
10. Karelia Brigade
11. Armoured Brigade
12. Pori Brigade
13. Guard Jaeger Regiment
14. National Defence University
15. Air Force Colour Party, Karelia Air Wing
16. Navy Colour Party, Coastal Brigade
17. Army Colour Party, Army Academy
18. Massed Standards of Veterans
19. Jaeger Flag
20. Swallow-Tailed State Flag
21. Dragoon Band
22. Choir of Kaukaan Laulumiehet and Choir of METKU

The pass in review will be conducted on Ainonkatu from 13:15 onwards. Starting with the dismounted detachments, the pass in review will continue by motorised detachments and a horse cavalry detachment.

The pass in review will comprise up to nearly 45 vehicles of the Army and other agencies. The fly-pasts will involve Army NH90 transport helicopters and MD500 helicopters as well as Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters and Hawk jet trainers.

The pass in review will be received by Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki accompanied by Chair of Lappeenranta City Council, Ms Sanna Koskenranta. The pass in review reception podium site will be in the vicinity of Ainonkatu 31. 

The parade troops will be commanded by Chief of Operations, Army, Brigadier General Sami-Antti Takamaa.

Music in the pass in review will be the responsibility of the Dragoon Band and the pass in review will be moderated to the public by journalist Jukka Lindström. 

The parade troops will start the pass in review at the line of departure on Ainonkatu to line with Halkosaari crossing. The pass in review will advance on Ainonkatu towards the city centre. 

The dismounted detachments will march on from Ainonkatu to Rakuunamäki. The vehicles of the pass in review will turn from Ainonkatu to Kipparinkatu, bypass the Fortress area on Satamatie and continue in the direction of Lappeenranta garrison and to their respective home garrisons.

ORDER OF PASS IN REVIEW

Dismounted troops

1. Commander of the parade
2. Swallow-Tailed State Flag
3. Jaeger Flag
4. Massed Standards of Veterans
5. Army Colour Party, Army Academy
6. Navy Colour Party, Coastal Parade
7. Air Force Colour Party, Karelia Air Wing
8. National Defence University
9. Guard Jaeger Regiment
10. Pori Brigade
11. Armoured Brigade
12. Karelia Brigade
13. Utti Jaeger Regiment
14. Finnish Border Guard, Border and Coast Guard Academy
15. South Karelia Regional Defence Company
16. Massed Standards of National Defence Associations
17. Soldier’s Home Association
18. National Defence Training Association of Finland
19. Peace Keepers’ Association of Finland
20. Women’s National Emergency Preparedness of Finland
21. Women’s National Defence Union

Motorised detachment

The motorised detachment’s pass in review will start by long-range intelligence equipment followed by readiness unit equipment and that of combined arms elements. The detachment of agencies will include equipment of the Police, Finnish Border Guard, Customs, and Rescue Department. The pass in review will be culminated by the horse cavalry detachment followed by the Dragoon Band.

For more information on our equipment, see: https://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/equipment