Whereas, February 16, 2005, marks the 87^th anniversary of the 1918 restoration of independence to Lithuania; and,

Whereas, That hard-won independence was short lived for the Lithuanian people, as invading Communist Russian troops overran the small Baltic nation; and,

Whereas, Despite unimaginable suffering and sacrifice, including policies of genocide, the Lithuanian people never forgot the February 16, 1918, independence proclamation and their love and desire for independence, liberty, justice, and freedom of thought and action – principles which we as American citizens and our fellow citizens in democratic nations are fortunate to enjoy; and,

Whereas, After decades of struggle, mass demonstrations, nation-wide strikes and courageous referendum votes for freedom, on March 11, 1991, the citizens of Lithuania finally achieved the restoration of their free, independent and democratic nation as declared in 1918; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby declare February 16, 2005, as Lithuanian Independence Day in Michigan and urge all citizens to join me and our citizens of Lithuanian descent in recognizing this historic observance and the sacrifices made by the people of Lithuania in their pursuit for freedom and democracy.