On Sunday 19 May 2024, President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb paid their respects to the war dead at the Hietaniemi cemetery in Helsinki. During the commemoration ceremony, President Stubb laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers is held every year on the third Sunday in May. It honours all those who died or were executed during or after wars or battles on Finnish territory or in which Finland and Finns were involved, as well as those who died in prison camps. Today the day also commemorates Finnish soldiers who have died on peacekeeping missions.
The day is traditionally marked by honorary visits and wreath-laying ceremonies at the graves of fallen heroes throughout the country. At the Hietaniemi cemetery, wreaths were also laid by representatives of the Finnish government, the Finnish Defence Forces, the Finnish Border Guard, the Association of Relatives of the Fallen, veterans’ and national defence organisations, and the City of Helsinki.
