Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb hosted an early Independence Day event on Monday, honouring the country's war veterans and former members of the women's defence organisation Lotta Svärd.
Around 20 of the honoured guests attended Monday's event, which was arranged separately from the gala scheduled on Independence Day, Friday 6 December.
Stubb's predecessor, former president Sauli Niinistö and his wife Jenni Haukio, as well as other government officials and veteran organisation members were also at Monday's event.
In a speech, President Stubb thanked the guests of honour for their work during and after the war.
"For us, who have been born after the wars, it is difficult to fathom all that you as soldiers and members of the Lotta Svärd organisation had to go through during the years of war. You fought against the overwhelmingly superior enemy without giving in. At the same time, the home front tried to get by and keep Finland going," Stubb told the guests, according to an English version of the speech issued by the president's office.
He also spoke to those who lost parents or spouses during the war.
"For many of you, who belong to the Finnish generation that lived through the war, those were the years of survival. You had to grow up faster than you should have. But thanks to your perseverance, we can live and be grateful for an independent nation. Grateful for a safe homeland. Grateful for the best country in the world," Stubb told the guests.
"Today, we can look back at the success story of 107-year-old Finland. At how our country became one of the most developed countries in the world in the post-war decades. This would not have been possible without the tenacious work of the veteran generation," he said.
The separate event for veterans and women's defence group members was organised separately, following requests by the honourees and their representatives.
According to the president's office, the daytime reception offered the guests a chance to comfortably gather in an unhurried manner, enabling more guests of honour to attend, in light of their advanced age and related health issues.
The president and his wife have invited around 1,700 guests to an Independence Day gala at the Presidential Palace on Friday, 6 December. This year's theme is one of unity (officially, "Together"), according to the president's office.
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