National Veterans Day will be celebrated on April 25th at the Riihimäki Central Church.

The National Veterans Day celebration will be held in Riihimäki on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 13 p.m. at the Central Church (address Hämeenkatu 5). Before the celebration, coffee will be served starting at 12 p.m. at the Kirkkopuisto parish house (address Kirkkopolku 2). At the request of the organizers, it was decided to move the celebration to Friday this year so that the city's ninth-graders, who were invited as guests, can participate. National Veterans Day is celebrated in Finland annually on April 27, but this year the day falls on a Sunday.

A warm and valuable occasion

The celebration is open to all and free of charge. The warm and dignified event will feature greetings and musical performances. The aim of the event is to pass on the legacy of veterans to future generations, and therefore children and young people in particular have been invited to the celebration as performers and guests. National Veterans Day is celebrated in honour of Finland's war veterans and in commemoration of the end of the war and the beginning of peace.

This year, the speaker will be Chairman Arto Nykänen from the Tammenlehvä Hämeenlinna Region Heritage Association. The city's greeting will be delivered by Mayor Jouni Eho. The garrison's greeting will be delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Kai Känä from the Armoured Brigade, and the youth greeting will be delivered by Fiia Niemelä from Riihimäki Upper Secondary School. The music will be provided by students from the Riihimäki Music Institute and the music-focused classes at Eteläinen School. At the end of the celebration, a Veterans Day wreath will be sent to the Heroes' Grave led by Pastor Teemu Saarinen and the upper secondary school students.

The arrangements for the event are made in cooperation with the city of Riihimäki, Riihimäki parish, Hattula-Riihimäki garrison and local veteran and national defense organizations.

The main national holiday is celebrated in Hämeenlinna

The main national celebration of National Veterans Day will be held in Hämeenlinna this year on Sunday, April 27, 2025. The theme of the celebration is Peace Message. The theme honors the promise and trust between generations, which has historically been the strength and resource of our small nation in both good and difficult years. In 1986, the Government designated April 27 as National Veterans Day and General Flag-raising Day at the initiative of veterans' organizations.

Patriotic celebrations page on the Riihimäki city website