In the over 700 years that have passed since the first king of Lithuania was crowned. the Lithuanian people have distinguished themselves as a strong and closeknit group. Those who have come to our country have continued to cherish their language. religion. and culture and have educated their children in the ways of their forefathers. This sense of pride and identity accompanied each wave of Lithuanian immigrants to the United Statesthe first group coming for wider opportunity. the second. to escape Nazi domination. and the third. to free themselves from the rule of the Soviets. I have a number of LithuanianAmericans in my district. and every year at this time they issue me reminders of the commemoration of Lithuanian Independence Day. I salute them and their counterparts throughout the country for paying tribute to Lithuania on the 16th. in the hope that some day the land of their ancestors will be free from Soviet domination.*
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immigrants