US Senator Rob Portman in Lithuanian Garden

Senator Rob Portman spoke at the 80th anniversary celebration of the Lithuanian Cultural Garden in Cleveland.  He spoke about how the freedom of the Baltics (and Ukraine and Crimea, etc.) is essential and how the US must support its allies.  

More from the Lithuanian community of Cleveland

Senator Rob Portman – Eastern Europe, ethnic groups and George Voinovich

Senator Rob Portman spoke at the 80th anniversary celebration of the Lithuanian Cultural Garden in Cleveland.  After the event he was asked if his expertise with the Baltic States, Ukraine and Eastern Europe and his strong relationships with the ethnic groups came from the late Senator George Voinovich.  

More of Cleveland's Lithuanian community

Estonian community on passing of Sen. George Voinovich

Erika Puussaar, a Director of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation and delegate to the Estonian Garden, told how grateful the people of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were to Senator George Voinovich for his work to get the Baltics into NATO.

http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/estonian/estonian.htm and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/latvian/latvian.htm and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm

Possibility of Russian Aggression in Baltics

Ambassador Ginte Damusyte-Damusis was the keynote speaker at the 98th Anniversary of the Lithuanian Declaration of Independence Program in Cleveland.

She was asked about the mood and possible fears in the Baltics about the current Russian policies.
She told how many have now had a taste of democratic life and are concerned about a return to Soviet era control.

http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm