Hundreds run in Vilnius to honour six Lithuanian service members
Saturday 17th October 2026 on 15:15 in
Lithuania
Hundreds of Lithuanian troops, allied forces and running enthusiasts took part in Vilnius’s 12th In Memoriam run on Saturday, honouring six Lithuanian service members who died this year and raising funds for their families, LRT reported.
The event, organised by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Grand Duchess Birutė Officers’ Family Women’s Association, was held in Vingis Park. Participants could choose a one-kilometre or four-kilometre route.
Donations are being collected for the families of Private Sergej Petrikov, Senior Sergeant Specialist Marius Bojarunas, Senior Sergeant Specialist Arvydas Ašmontas, Major Arnoldas Narbutis, Junior Private Gediminas Virkutis and Staff Sergeant Romas Ramanauskas. Donations can be made until October 31.
An open Lithuanian Armed Forces 10-kilometre running championship was also held, with Olympians Brigita Virbalytė-Dimšienė, Marius Žiūkas and Vaida Žūsinaitė-Nekriošienė among the participants.
Remembrance runs took place this week in Estonia, Belgium, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Lithuanian Armed Forces units also organised runs at their bases to honour fallen service members and raise support for their relatives.
The first In Memoriam run was held in autumn 2015 following the death in service of Major Vytautas Burokas. The event has since become an annual tradition.