A.Ardzijauskas was sent off on an impressive journey by members of the Lithuanian community in San Francisco, who raised the Lithuanian Tricolor and held drawings by Lithuanian children with wishes for Aidas on a windy evening near the bridge.
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“It’s nice that you are starting to run across America from us. We will run with you in our hearts,” said Romas Matukas, a member of the Lithuanian community in San Francisco.
“A great idea to unite Lithuanian communities in the USA through running, thus congratulating President Valdas Adamkus on his birthday. We join in and hope everything will go well on this journey,” added R. Matukas.
A.Ardzijauskas, visiting Lithuanian communities in the USA, will run from San Francisco to Denver, then to Chicago, and will finish the run in Washington, the country’s capital, covering about 5,000 kilometers in total.
The goal of the run is to celebrate Lithuanian unity, to bring Lithuanian communities together in the idea of honoring and thanking President Valdas Adamkus for his contribution to fostering Lithuanian identity.
“I think this is a very beautiful start. The start of something big. The run is in honor of the President’s heart, and it will be done by a true iron man,” said Laurynas Misevičius, one of the project’s initiators, who participated in the send-off.
Before the run, A.Ardzijauskas signed the flag of the Lithuanian community of San Francisco, created by Tautvydas Kaltenis, which depicts motifs of this city and Lithuania – a phoenix rising from the ashes and national symbols of our country.
And Aušra Štarka, chairwoman of the Lithuanian community in San Francisco, wrote these words on the Tricolor signed by Valdas Adamkus, which Aidas will carry across America: “May your journey across America become a living bridge between Lithuania and the life story of Valdas Adamkus. Run in honor of his century with Lithuania in your heart, freedom in your thoughts, and strength in every step.”
A.Ardzijauskas will be accompanied during the run by the “Sporto Zona” filming crew, who will document this “iron man’s” adventure in a documentary film.
“The sporting challenge is indeed great, but the noble idea inspires. I think the greeting of unity is the most appropriate for the President,” said A.Ardzijauskas.
