VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS - A bronze bust of Lithuania's first inter-war president, Antanas Smetona, was unveiled in Ukmerge on Friday.

"A historic event took place in Ukmerge as a bust of one of the most prominent founders of the State of Lithuanian, the first president of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona, was unveiled," the local municipality said.

Made of bronze, the bust on a 1.8 meter high pedestal was erected in central Ukmerge, an exact copy of the one that stood there in the 1930s. It was destroyed during the Soviet-era destruction.

According to the municipality, the day chosen for the unveiling ceremony was not a coincidence as on April 4, 1919, Smetona as elected Lithuania's first president.

Smetona served as president of Lithuania in 1919-1920 and 1926-1940. He died in a fire at his home in the United States in 1944.

redakcija@bns.lt "mailto:redakcija@bns.lt", Vilnius newsroom