On Sunday, a Holy Mass was held at Vilnius Cathedral for four Americans who went missing this week (JAV) soldiers.
The mass was attended by General Christopher G. Cavoli, Commander of US Military Forces in Europe and Africa, Minister of National Defense Dovilė Šakalienė, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys, Lithuanian army Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras, US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald.
"Our sense of partnership drives us forward. You care for our soldiers as if they were your own." soldiers", - C. Cavolis told reporters.
During the Holy Mass, prayers were also offered for the families and loved ones of the missing soldiers, as well as for the soldiers and rescuers who have been conducting the search and rescue operation since Tuesday.
"God gives us hope to overcome all difficulties (…) The soldiers have gathered, the Ministry of National Defense has come to support, especially the other American soldiers here, our soldiers, those who (participate – ELTA) in the rescue operation," Archbishop Metropolitan Gintaras Grušas told reporters after the Holy Mass.
"But prayers also go out to those relatives in America, to support them in this difficult situation," he added.
ELTA reminds that on Tuesday, at 16.45:XNUMX p.m., a report was received about US soldiers and a tracked vehicle missing during exercises at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė.
On Wednesday, the military said that a possible location of the incident had been identified and a search and rescue operation was underway. It is being led by the military, with additional resources from the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) and other institutions. Helicopters from the Air Force and the State Border Guard Service (SBS) have been activated.
On Wednesday afternoon, the US military confirmed that an M88 Hercules tracked vehicle submerged in a swamp had been found.
The US Embassy says the missing are from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
Lithuanian officials insist that all versions regarding the fate of the soldiers are currently being investigated - their bodies have not been found.
On Wednesday NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the deaths of four US soldiers in Lithuania, but his spokeswoman soon clarified this information, insisting that the Alliance leader was talking about "news reports that have emerged" but did not confirm the deaths.
Gailė Jaruševičiūtė-Mockuvienė (ELTA)
