Command Team Visits Estonia During Independence Day Celebration

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1582994512450{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]By Senior Airman Sarah M. McClanahan, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1582996978728{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy E. Gowen, the adjutant general of Maryland, made his inaugural visit to Estonia, one of two Maryland State Partnership Program countries. U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Perlisa D. Wilson, Maryland National Guard senior enlisted leader, also participated in the visit which coincided with Estonia’s 102nd Independence Day celebration on Feb. 24, 2020, in the capital, Tallinn.

Gowen was appointed as the 30th adjutant general of Maryland on Sept. 1, 2019, and is responsible for the daily operations of the Maryland Military Department, including the bilateral military cooperation between the MDNG and Estonia.

“It’s a testament and honor to see Maryland National Guard service members invited to participate, front and center, in their ceremonial events.” said Gowen. “I’m proud to be able to continue a strong partnership between our countries [USA and Estonia] while learning about their diverse culture and history at the same time.”

Estonia declared their independence and sovereignty on this day in 1918, following centuries of rule by foreign powers.

Places like Kuberneri Garden, the former late 1700s fortress now open garden, began the day with a ceremonial flag raising.

Following the sunrise flag raising, wreaths of flowers sporting the nation’s colors were ceremoniously laid at the Monument of the War of Independence in Vabaduse Square, which was followed by a military parade.

“We are free, we have a rich culture, we live in good conditions, and we have many friends and allies who share the same values,” expressed Estonian Defence Forces commander, Estonian Maj. Gen. Martin Herem at the start of the parade. “We decide for ourselves which direction our country is developing.”

Since 1993, the Maryland National Guard has been partnered with Estonia through the State Partnership Program. The two nations have worked together to support Estonia’s defense security goals through military-to-military events and exercises.

“The great thing about the partnership between Estonia and the Maryland National Guard is that we are a perfect match,” says Gowen. “They learn a lot from us and we learn a lot from them. For 27 years, both partner countries have fostered a cooperative and mutually-beneficial relationship.”

The partnership between Maryland and Estonia has been used as an example for developing future partnerships within the SPP. Both countries plan to conduct combined-joint exercises in the future to allow both countries and their allies to train for regional crisis response and improvement of security of borders and countering threats.

“It is imperative to highlight the activities of our soldiers in international military operations, where we are not only reliable allies, but, certainly contributing to the well-being of the people who live in these regions,” Herem explains in his Independence Day speech. “It is safe to say that we will not stand alone in defending our national independence.”[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”View photo gallery from exercise” css=”.vc_custom_1526040459743{margin-top: 5px !important;margin-bottom: 5px !important;border-top-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1582996688091{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]