Lithuania's 100th anniversary celebration of Independence

On February 16, 2018, Lithuanians all over the world celebrated the birth of a new Lithuania. This date is like a bridge between the old Lithuania born on July 6, 1253 and the new independent Lithuania restored on March 11, 1990. Had it not been for February 16, there would have been no events of 11 of March, nor the subsequent success story.

The Centennial of the new Lithuania is a success story. The main achievements are as follows: Lithuania has become a player of the European and world history, with its modern civil society aware of the importance of freedom and the responsibility that goes with it, and with new emerging vistas for action for the Lithuanian state and its people.

On February 17, 2018 members and friends of the Lithuanian communities of Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal and more gathered for a beautiful and meaningful ceremony at Cleveland State University.

5 pages of coverage with videos of the entire ceremony and hundreds of photos are as follows:


Main Page 1 of 100th anniversary of Lithuania event

Page 2 - Svyturys and Gintaras Dancers

Page 3 - Choirs at 100th anniversary of Lithuania event

Page 4 - Dancers backed by Choir at 100th anniversary of Lithuania 

Page 5 - Combined groups Grand Finale

Cleveland Cultural Gardens Centennial Plaza Groundbreaking

Sheila Murphy Crawford, president of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation, invited Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and other dignitaries to ceremonially break ground in the Centennial Plaza of the Cultural Gardens during the 71st annual One World Day in the Centennial Year of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

 In the background, the band No Strangers Here consisting of Pat Hoynes, Bob Crawford and Larry Bachtel performed a special version of the Garden Song (Inch by Inch, Row by Row) at One World Day 2016 in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The lyrics spoke about the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and the 71st annual One World Day.


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Sheila Crawford - Michael Stanley at Cultural Gardens concert

Cleveland musician Michael Stanley is the headline act for the Centennial celebration in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens at the 71st annual One World Day on August 28, 2016.

 Cultural Gardens board member Dan Hanson spoke with Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation president Sheila Murphy Crawford in the Hungarian Cultural Garden in front of a monument to Franz Liszt.

She explained the significance of the Centennial celebration in the Gardens and why they wanted a headline act of the magnitude of Michael Stanley to perform. The acoustic concert in the Cultural Gardens will be a free event to celebrate the Gardens Centennial Year.

More about One World Day

Michael Stanley talks music before his Cultural Gardens concert

Rock and roll musician Michael Stanley is the headline act for the Centennial celebration in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens at the 71st annual One World Day on August 28, 2016.

He spoke with Cultural Gardens board member Dan Hanson in the Hungarian Cultural Garden in front of a monument to Franz Liszt.

Michael Stanley told who would be in his all-time favorite band (Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Clarence Clemons, etc.).

He also spoke about how the audience sings the line (Thank God for the man who put the white lines on the highway) in his song Lover at concerts.

The acoustic concert in the Cultural Gardens will be a free event to celebrate the Gardens Centennial Year.

More on One World Day in Cleveland Cultural Gardens

Cleveland Museum of Art Dir William Griswold – Centennial Part 2

Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) Director William Griswold spoke at the kick off of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s summer of centennial programs event.  This is Part 2 of 2. Slider from the Cleveland Indians joined Bill at the podium.



More photos and video of CMA Centennial event

Cleveland Museum of Art Dir William Griswold – Centennial Part 1

Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) Director William Griswold spoke at the kick off of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s summer of centennial programs event.  This is Part 1 of 2 and gives some history of the CMA and a look at the summer events.


More photos and video of CMA Centennial event

Steve Kestner and Mayor Frank Jackson – Cleveland Museum of Art

Steve Kestner, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), welcomed the crowd and introduced Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.  

Mayor Jackson gave a proclamation to CMA Director Bill Griswold.

Photos and video from CMA event

Cleveland Museum of Art Dir William Griswold and time machine

Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) Director William Griswold spoke at the kick off of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s summer of centennial programs event.

I asked him to imagine he had a time machine.  What might the CMA founders have thought if they could see the Museum today? What might his successor say in 100 years at the Bicentennial celebration?

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 4

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is the conclusion (part 4) of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 3

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is part 3 of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 2

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is part 2 of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.   and Chris presents a check to CCGF president Sheila Crawford.

Senator Sherrod Brown and Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent this video message to show his support for the Gardens on their 100th anniversary and for their message of ‘Peace through Mutual Understanding.’

Senator Rob Portman and Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  US Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) sent this video message to show his support for the Gardens on their 100th anniversary and for their message of ‘Peace through Mutual Understanding.’

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 1

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is part 1 of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

Dick Russ introduces keynote speaker Chris Ronayne

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  A packed house of 325 watched Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ introduce keynote speaker Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th Gala – Dan Hanson

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)

CCGF Executive Board member Dan Hanson presented some of the proclamations received including from Mayor Frank Jackson, State Senator Tom Patton and Governor John Kasich.  He then showed video tributes from Senator Rob Portman and Senator Sherrod Brown.  Then a special letter from President Barack Obama from the White House was read and displayed.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th Gala - Dignitaries

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford introduced Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ who acknowledged some of the dignitaries in attendance such as Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Consul of Ireland from Chicago Orla McBreen.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th – Rev Caviness

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  A packed house of 325 watched Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ introduce Pastor Caviness for the invocation.  Since 1961, Reverend Emmitt Theophilus Caviness has served as Pastor of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland.

Toast to Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.) CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford called up the CCGF Executive Board and asked the audience to join them in a toast to the 100th anniversary of the gardens – in their native language.

 

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th – Sheila Crawford

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford welcomed the crowd and gave some updates on the Gardens.