Freedom Monument FactsThe Freedom Monument is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia, honouring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920).The sculptures and bas-reliefs of the monument, arranged in thirteen groups, depict Latvian culture and history.Following the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union and the Freedom Monument was considered for demolition, but no such move was carried out.The monument is located in the centre of Riga on Brīvības bulvāris.The clock was set up in 1924, and in 1936 it was decorated with an advertisement for the Latvian confectionery brand “Laima”, from which it took its name; it is a popular meeting spot.The idea of building a memorial to honour soldiers killed in action during the Latvian War of Independence first emerged in the early 1920s. On July 27, 1922, the Prime Minister of Latvia, Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, ordered rules to be drawn up for a contest for designs of a “memorial column”. The winner of this contest was a scheme proposing a column 27 meters (89 ft) tall with reliefs of the official symbols of Latvia and bas-reliefs of Krišjānis Barons and Atis Kronvalds.The 42.7-meter high monument is made up of 56 sculptures, divided into 13 sculptural groups on four levels, which depict Latvian history and culture.Two soldiers stand guard at the monument throughout the day and perform a modest changing of the guards every hour on the hour from 9 am to 6 pm.She (The Statue) holds aloft three stars indicative of the three historical districts of Latvia.As of 2016, the monument is regularly monitored and its lower part is cleaned and covered with a protective coating every five years. It is planned to carry out cleaning and restoration of the entire monument in 2017.Freedom Monument Facts
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