Yesterday, at the Jonas Basanavičius Birthplace in Ožkabaliai, a branch of the Lithuanian National Museum, a community tree-planting event brought together dozens of supporters and local residents who contributed to the initiative “Gift a Cherry Tree to Jonas Basanavičius.” In total, more than €4,000 was donated to the project. During the event, participants planted 30 cherry trees as well as 10 cherry shrubs, which will eventually form a hedge separating part of the territory from the road. The remaining funds will be used for the long-term care of the orchard.

The planting marked the symbolic restoration of a historic cherry orchard described in Basanavičius’ own memoirs. Based on the patriarch’s notes, the initiative seeks to return cherry trees to their historical location and create a living, growing monument of memory. Participants not only planted trees, but also listened to stories about the cherry-growing traditions of the Sūduva region, sampled cherry-based culinary heritage dishes and took part in a musical program.

According to Rūta Vasiliauskienė, director of the birthplace museum, the initiative symbolically commemorates the 175th anniversary of Basanavičius’ birth while also strengthening community ties.

“The planting event showed that we can build historical memory together—with our own hands. We believe that in a few years, the blooming orchard here will remind us not only of Jonas Basanavičius, but also of all the people who contributed to this initiative. Like a tree, a community grows gradually, but the value it creates lasts for a long time,” she says.

The initiative received broad public support. Through the National Museum of Lithuania’s crowdfunding platform, €1,521 was raised, while an additional €2,535 was donated directly by supporters. These funds are dedicated to restoring the orchard and further developing the initiative. The restored orchard is expected to become a space that connects generations—a place for rest, interaction and a living relationship with history.

“With this initiative, we invited people to give a living gift—a tree that will grow, blossom and endure. We want everyone who contributed to feel a connection to this place and to know that their contribution has taken root here in the most literal sense,” says Vasiliauskienė.

In total, 41 supporters contributed to the initiative. The National Museum of Lithuania expresses its sincere gratitude to the project’s main supporters:

The Totoraitis family, Rimas Murinas, Greta Undžytė, UAB “Art Glacio”, Korp! Fraternitas Lituanica et Patria (LSMU), UAB “Santakos laikraštis”, Klaipėda University Student Scientific Society, LSDP Vilkaviškis District Branch, Asta Merkevičienė, the Marazas family, UAB “Timaka”, the Maksvytis farm, the public institution “Palikime pėdsaką”, Vilkaviškis “LIONS” Club, Marijampolė Special Social Care Home (“Group Living Home”), the Čepas family, Vilkaviškis District “Rotary Club”, the family of Valdas and Edita Šuliauskas, the Lithuanian Guides Guild, the students and community of the Bartninkai Jonas Basanavičius division of Gražiškiai Gymnasium, Kaunas Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium, the publishing house “Terra Publica”, Ukmergė Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium, the students and community of Gražiškiai Gymnasium in Vilkaviškis District, and the Pudlauskas family.

We also sincerely thank the other supporters—an additional 14 individuals who contributed to the initiative:

Jurgita Svotaitė, Vladas Burokas, Jurgita Bubnienė, Natalija Aleknavičienė, Jurga Strimaitienė, Aldona Kaminskienė, Ieva Meilutė-Svinkūnienė, Rūta Šumskaire, Asta Lukošiūtė, Rasa Jocienė, Giedrė Linartaitė, Agnė Brazaitienė, Sigita Malmygė and Eimantė Korytė.

Photos: Laima Ivanauskaitė