The flag is raised at a height of 368 meters in the television tower / Article

This is already the tenth time that the red, white and red flag flies proudly over Riga on May 4th. Even folding the flag on the ground is a great art, because there, at a height of 368 meters, there will be no time for any other work.

“Every meter we climb changes the panorama – Riga and the immediate surroundings look completely different,” says LVRTC high-climber, engineer Jānis Faltiņš.

“It is a great pride, joy and challenge. The whole family sympathizes,” says LVRTC high-climber, engineer Sandris Galiņš.

“It’s my first time, I’m a little nervous,” adds LVRTC high-climber, engineer Rihards Rundzāns.

And so the three of them raise the flag on the highest television tower in the European Union. At the beginning, you can use the elevator, which leads to a height of 97 meters, further with another elevator – 134 meters, but the last 50 meters high climbers will climb almost vertically on narrow stairs.

Meanwhile, the families of those who work here gather at the foot of the tower. The White Tablecloth Festival is being celebrated this year with national guards and some creative activities.

It is interesting that, although a flagpole was installed in the tower in 1986 to raise the flag of Soviet Latvia, it never happened.

“Informally, the message was about that – either the red and white Latvian flag or no flag at all,” said LVRTC chairman Ģirts Ozols.

Raising the flag is the most emotional moment. There is always intrigue – whether there will be wind or whether the flag will fly proudly, but high climbers can do everything. And over Zaķusala, over the whole of Riga, the red, white and red colors of freedom fly proudly again.

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