4th of July Reception: 100 Years of Friendship Between Lithuania and the United States of America

Tuesday afternoon (3rd of July), Ambassador of the United States of America Anne Hall invited guests to her residence in Žvėrynas where we celebrated anniversary of the US Independence Day. Year 2018 marks the 242nd anniversary of the US Independence. The official date of Independence is July 4th, but in Lithuania it is celebrated earlier at the end of June. This date has been celebrated in the US since the 1776s, when 13 of the British Empire colonies declared their independence.

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The reception was attended by a group of guests from a very diverse range of countries: members of the Seimas, representatives of the business, culture and entertainment world. Our school was honored by an invitation as well. Vilnius Jonas Basanavičius pre-gymnasium was represented by our online collaboration platform’s “The Voice Space” management – Vitalija Kliaščiūtė and Lina Sudintienė.

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The feast featured boys and youth choir “Ąžuoliukas” at the national and American hymns. Jazz professionals Artūras Anušauskas and Vytautas Labutis showed a remarkable jazz performance, some other singers performed as well.

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Traditionally, United States diplomats welcomed gathered guests and paid homage to US military banners. During the celebration, the exhibition “Per Atlantą: Lietuvos – JAV draugystės amžius” was displayed at the residence during the celebration of independence of Lithuania and the United States of America.

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The exhibition, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the restoration of independence was created by the US Embassy in Lithuania and by the President’s Valdas Adamkus Library – a museum of historians combined with the Fulbright scholar from the United States, Charles Perin.