Lithuanians bid farewell to four US soldiers who died during training exercise

Описание: (3 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vilnius, Lithuania – 3 April 2025
1. Various of soldiers of the honorary guard on Gedemin Square
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin Boyd, Upper School Principal of the American International School:
“I'm here with a group of students to honor the fallen soldiers from the United States and to honor the relationship between Lithuania and America and the defensive pact that represents. It's important for us to give dignity to the fallen and to let the families know that we are with them and we support them in this time.”
3. The military and civilians stand and go near the square where a mourning motorcade will go.
4. Woman holds portraits of dead American soldiers.
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Robertas (surname not given), student:
“I'm here because I wanted to pay respect to the fallen soldiers of the United States of America. I believe we have to 'solidaire' with the people of the USA because they've been serving here. They were doing an exercise and they have died here to protect us.”
6. Various of people waiting for motorcade.
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Aurėja Domžaitė, student:
“I'm here today because it's really sad that this unfortunate event happened. It's important to us. Our Lithuanian government relationship with the USA, with other countries is really important, especially because of the war in Ukraine and everything. I'm here to support the fallen soldiers and the people who are fighting, not training in Lithuania, and really thankful for NATO and for other countries for their support.”
8. Various of civilian, military and officials awaiting motorcade.
9. Various of motorcade driving past the square.
10, Motorcade stops. Church bell tolls
10. Several people hold a US Fkag
STORYLINE:
Lithuania's political and religious leaders joined thousands of people on Thursday to bid farewell to four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in the Baltic nation.

President Gitanas Nausėda and other dignitaries were among those who stood in respect as hearses carried the bodies of the four young Americans to Vilnius airport before being flown to the United States

Many of the onlookers were in tears, and Nausėda said that the reaction of the population and the military to the death of soldiers was rooted in Lithuania's own difficult history.

“For us, it is more than a duty, it is an emotion. We have experienced trials in our history and therefore we understand well what loss is, what death is, what honourable duty is,” Nausėda said.

Schoolchildren accompanied by teachers waved Lithuanian and U.S. flags to honor the soldiers, who died in an accident along NATO's eastern flank, a region that is on edge due to Russia's aggression in nearby Ukraine.

Leading one group was Justin Boyd, the secondary school principal of the American International School in Vilnius, who said his group was there “to honor the fallen soldiers from the United States and to honor the relationship between Lithuania and America and the defensive pact that represents.”

“It’s important for us to give dignity to the fallen and to let the families know that we are with them and we support them in this time,” Boyd said.

The soldiers, part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle went missing a week ago, the Army said.

Lithuanian, Polish and U.S. soldiers and rescuers searched through the forests and swamps at the Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in the town of Pabradė, six miles (10 kilometers) west of the border with Belarus.






Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...