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President Ilves: Allain Tikko was a brave Estonian soldier

22.06.2009

“With bowed heads and thoughts of grief, we say goodbye to a person that served our country and died in the service of our country,” President Ilves said at the funeral in the Kaarli Church for Warrant Officer Allain Tikko, who was killed in Afghanistan. “With bowed heads and thoughts of grief, we say goodbye to a person that served our country and died in the service of our country,” President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said at the funeral held in the Kaarli Church for Warrant Officer Allain Tikko, who was killed in Afghanistan.

According to the Head of State, Allain Tikko along with his brothers-in-arms that have fought and are fighting on Estonia’s foreign missions chose the supreme privilege of a citizen – the privilege of serving one’s country.

“Not everyone is strong enough to accept the responsibilities and commitments that come with service to one’s country. This can be borne only by the strongest, the best and the most loyal,” President Ilves said. “And also the most vulnerable, for in addition to responsibility and commitment, the men and women that choose to serve Estonia on its foreign missions have to accept risk in the name of peace and justice.”

The Head of State affirmed to all the members of the Estonian Defence Forces and their families that Estonian soldiers are fighting a just battle in Afghanistan, where our objective is to achieve an Afghanistan that is secure for the Afghans and their neighbours, as well as cut off the narcotics flow from Afghanistan to Europe, including Estonia.

“Allain Tikko was a brave Estonian soldier, loyal to his oath of service. Moreover, this loyalty comprised all the loftiness, and unfortunately tragedy, of serving one’s country,” President Ilves said.

“I thank those who raised this fine man. I thank Allain Tikko’s family who provided him with the greatest support while waiting for him at home during his many foreign missions. “If the faith of a soldier’s family endures, the strength of a soldier will also endure,” the Head of State said.

Turning to Allain Tikko’s fellow soldiers, President Ilves said, “If you hesitate about how to continue, remember that Allain Tikko would not have hesitated. Let this thought give you strength.”

“At the Kõpu Cemetery, tall lindens and maples will keep guard over Warrant Officer Allain Tikko’s tranquillity. However, it is up to us to preserve his memory and we must be thankful for his bravery,” the Head of State said, concluding with the words, “Allain Tikko, we thank you for your service.”


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