Memorial Plate for Antanas Smetona
Coordinates: 55.248800 22.285600
Object address: Stoties street 7, Taurage, Lithuania
Municipality: Tauragė district
The memorial plate for Antanas Smetona, the first President of the Republic of Lithuania and Signatory of the Lithuanian Independence Act, was opened near a building at Stoties Street 7 on 16 February 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Lithuanian statehood.
President Antanas Smetona visited Tauragė on 15 August 1937 to participate at the official ceremony of the 3rd Geležinis Vilkas Dragoon Platoon and stayed at the home of doctor Feliksas Proscevičius, which stood at the intersection between Stoties and Prezidento streets. Tauragė cherishes the memory of the President since the old days. On 9 September 1934, Tauragės Ekspresas newspaper wrote that for the 60th birthday of the Lithuanian President, Vokiečių Street in Tauragė was renamed after President Smetona. Back in the day, the President was honoured in the entire district, while the city itself was flowing in a sea of lights and flowers.
On 15 August 1937, the Chief of the Armed Forces President A. Smetona, accompanied by various officials, came to the official ceremony by a separate train. The President was welcomed at Tauragė Railway Station by various military officers, authorities and the public. Later, the President visited the Holy Trinity Church. After the official mass the President was greeted by the City Burgomaster J. Jurgilas, carrying a symbolic loaf of bread. The entire city was full of military formations and citizens. The mass was held at the square of the barracks, located in Tauragė Manor, followed by a joint feast at the newly-built canteen. During the official ceremony, the 3rd Geležinis Vilkas Dragoon Platoon was presented with a flag and had the newly-built barracks consecrated.
Antanas Smetona, the politician, state, public and cultural figure, and lawyer of the Interwar Lithuania, was born on 10 August 1874 in Užulėnis village, Taujėnai volost, Ukmergė county. In June 1940, he moved to Germany, then – Switzerland and finally – the USA. He died on 9 January 1944 in Cleveland, USA.
Compiled in 2018