For Lithuania we live in today, who deserves the most gratitude? This is the readers’ verdict

Today we not only publish the names of the people that, according to you, deserve the recognition but we will also introduce the author of this initiative – businessman Andrius Tričius from Ukmergė.

A.Tričius will gift all the selected people his exclusive, handcrafted knives decorated with state heraldry.

Project initiator and businessman A.Tričius

“The path towards Lithuania‘s independence was not an easy one, but we succeeded in achieving it nonetheless. Our scientists, athletes and artists are winning awards on the international level. We managed to secure Lithuania’s safety and energy independence; the country’s current economic situation is at its highest point.”

“When looking at the road to independence that Lithuania has taken, some people stood out as they overcame hardships and dedicated their lives to working for and serving their homeland. These are specific names and faces which we are obligated to name and applaud as they deserve our utmost gratitude and respect. Although there is still much work to be done, we must look back and celebrate what we have already achieved,” affirms Andrius Tričius, who returned to Lithuania to create his business after living abroad for eight years.

“Let this be my contribution toward this important celebration of Lithuania”, said the young man. His handcrafted knives are appreciated by Lithuanian and foreign hunters, active leisure lovers, and armed forces personnel.

According to A.Tričius, a knife is a symbol of our strength, responsibility and an uncompromising attitude towards working for the betterment of Lithuania.

A Faithful Gift and a Movie-Worthy Business Beginnings

If we wanted to purchase knives made by the Ukmergė resident, we would have to wait as long as a year for some models and be prepared to spend over 500 Euros. The handcrafted knives, made in a workshop staffed by six people, get sent to a variety of countries – namely the US, China, Finland, Spain, Italy among other countries. Militaristic TRC Knives made by Andrius are used by Lithuania’s Aitvaras special forces and Lithuania’s armed forces. When NATO certified these knives, they piqued the interest of Germany’s armed forces as well.

This entire journey began when Andrius, together with his wife and two sons, decided to return to Lithuania after spending eight years living in the United Kingdom.

“The eldest son was due to start school soon. At that point, we had to decide which country we wanted to spend our lives in. I wanted my son to be able to speak Lithuanian, to grow up surrounded by the culture. Besides, England lacked nature. Because of these reasons, we decide to pack our belongings and return,” said A.Tričius.

In the beginning, Andrius took on various day jobs – he worked in construction sites, opened a pizzeria and even a car wash, while in the evenings he tried to solve a heart-wrenching puzzle – how to make a perfect knife. He received a hunting knife as a gift; while appreciated, he did find it to be uncomfortable. After many nights spent in front of the computer reading up on the manufacturing process of knives, Andrius moved to the basement of his house and started experimenting with metal. This is how his first handcrafted knife saw the light of day. The man showed the knife to his group of hunter friends, who were not only impressed by his craftsmanship but subsequently purchased it. Following, a second, third and fourth knife were purchased, and there was suddenly a constant demand. It was then suggested that others beside Andrius’ hunter friends should see the knives and even share their professional opinions.

TRC knives workshop team

This was the story of how the knives made by Andrius reached Lithuania‘s Association of Knife Makers, which was impressed by them. Step by step, Andrius got into the knife-making business and established the TRC Knives brand, whose reputation extends further abroad than within Lithuania.

Andrius believes that a knife should be long-lasting, which is why he continues to prioritize quality over quantity. He makes his knives from the highest-grade materials, which are also used by the best knife manufacturers in the world. Because of this, Andrius makes just over 2000 knives per year in his workshop.

“It would be an honour if my work is enjoyed and used by the men and women who contributed to the creation of our country. To me, a knife is a symbol of our strength, responsibility and an uncompromising attitude towards working for the betterment of Lithuania,“ said Andrius Tričius.

Seeks to Pass the Business to the Sons

A.Tričius together with his eldest son, Mark

Attitudes towards manhood, patriotism and responsibility all among the values A. Tričius hopes to pass on to his sons. His eldest son, Mark, is currently serving as a volunteer in the Lithuanian army.

“We live in a unique country with lots of nature. Here we have our language, habits and culture. I began to appreciate all this a lot more after living abroad. I think it’s a good experience for everyone. I clearly understood that I want to live here, and I want to feel dignified when stating Lithuania‘s name. The kind of Lithuania we are creating every day depends on every one of us. There is no absolute need to achieve grand things. Perhaps it enough if we greet our neighbours, keep our promises, avoid littering in nature, and are prepared to protect ourselves if the need arises. Small daily achievements are very important,” pondered the Ukmergė native.

According to A. Tričius, it is no less important to openly and loudly declare the heroes of our country and, in such a way, clearly set the course of our values for the younger generation. “This is the real meaning of these celebrations,” he believed.

We are announcing 30 of the most deserving creators of freedom, selected by the TRC Knives team and TV3.lt website readers.

Creators of freedom selected by TRC Knives team:

1. Vytautas V. Landsbergis – professor and Chairman of the Restoration Seimas.
2. Valdas Adamkus – former President of Lithuania.
3. Dalia Grybauskaitė – former President of Lithuania.
4. Gitanas Nausėda – current President of Lithuania.
5. Audrius Butkevičius – first Minister of National Defence.
6. Rasa Juknevičienė – former Minister of National Defence.
7. Liudas Mažylis – a historian who discovered the original February 16^th Act.
8. Edmundas Jakilaitis – journalist, statesman.
9. Juozas Jakavonis-Tigras – member of Lithuania’s former guerrilla forces.
10. Valdemaras Rupšys – Lieutenant General of the Lithuanian armed forces.

Creators of freedom selected by the tv3.lt website readers:

POLITICS

1. Česlovas Juršėnas – Journalist, politician, a signatory to Lithuania’s Independent State Restoration Act, multiple term Member of Seimas. He also held the position of Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of Seimas. Long term deputy-chairman of Lithuania‘s Democratic Party that later became Social Democratic Party.

1. Andrius Kubilius – Lithuanian politician, ex-Prime Minister, Member of Seimas, Chairman of the Homeland Union; a Lithuanian Christian Democrats political party. Elected to Seimas each time since 1992.

1. Antanas Terleckas – Dissident, underground press publisher, a political prisoner who spent time in Siberian gulags, Lukiškės prison, Ural, and was exiled to Magadan. One of the most active members of the resistance forces against the Soviet regime, and a fervent supporter of human rights, founder of the Lithuanian freedom league. In 2012, he won Lithuania‘s Freedom award.

1. Vygaudas Ušackas – Director of the Kaunas Technological University’s European Institute. Former minister of foreign affairs, ambassador to the US, Mexico and Britain. Lead negotiator on Lithuania’s accession to the European Union. During 2010-2013 he was a lead envoy to Afghanistan. Four times Director of the EU Representation to the Russian Federation.

SCIENCE

1. Alfredas Bumblauskas – Historian and professor. During the years 1990 to 2002, he was the dean of Vilnius University’s History faculty. He received Lithuania’s ‘Culture and Arts’ award for the creation of the TV show Būtovės Slėpiniai in addition to receiving the ‘Cross of Vytautas the Great Order’ and the ‘Belgian Crown Order Commodore Cross’.

1. Libertas Klimka – Physicist, Doctor of natural sciences, ethnologist, scientific historian, and professor of Lithuania’s educational university. He is also the founder of the cross-discipline sciences, paleo-astronomy and ethno-cosmology, in Lithuania. He received the ‘Jonas Basanavičius’ and ‘Stasys Šalkauskis’ awards.

1. Vytautas Sirvydis – A surgeon who has performed all types of heart surgeries and worked as part of a team who performed the first heart transplant in the Baltic states. Alongside others, he performed the first reconstructive surgery of the stomach aorta and kidney artery in Lithuania and created an experimental heart transplant model. He received Lithuania’s ‘Laureate of Sciences’.

Virginijus Šikšnys – Nobel prize nominee, DNA editing researcher, biochemist, Doctor of Physical Sciences, professor. He published over 90 scientific articles, and co-authored 5 patent submissions. Together with foreign partners, he established a third of the spatial structures and functioning mechanisms of around 50 globally known enzymes that can cut DNA. While researching restriction endonucleases, he published 8 joint articles together with Nobel prize winner professor Robert Huber. He received Lithuania’s ‘Science Award’ as well as many other Lithuanian and global awards.

SPORT

1. Virgilijus Alekna – Lithuanian discus thrower, winner of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic games, winner of the Bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic games. Two-time world and European champion, four-time winner of Lithuania’s ‘Best Athlete’ title, and the winner of the ‘World’s Best Light Athlete’ and of Europe’s ‘Best Light Athlete’ titles.

1. Rūta Meilutytė – Lithuanian swimmer, winner of Olympic and European championship titles. She has set multiple swimming records in Lithuania.

1. Arvydas Sabonis – President of Lithuania’s Basketball Federation, long-time basketball player, winner of Olympic and World championship titles.

1. Žydrūnas Savickas – Lithuania’s strongman, winner of multiple world and European championships, holder of ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ title.

CULTURE

1. Andželika Cholina – One of the most talented choreographers, awarded the “The Cross of the Golden Scene”, the ‘Order for Merits to Lithuania’, and the Culture Ministry’s ‘Badge of Honour “Carry your light and believe”’.

1. Asmik Grigorian – Named the best opera soloist by the ‘International Opera Awards’ in 2019, she is a well-known singer who has been awarded the “Golden Scene Cross”, twice awarded the ‘Order for merits to Lithuania’. Last year she was awarded Lithuania’s ‘National Culture and Arts’ award.

1. Oskaras Koršunovas – A movie director who established a theatre in his name, in which he hosts shows around the world. Laureate of the Lithuanian ‘National Culture and Arts’ award, bearer of the ‘Second Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas the Second’.

1. Gintaras Rinkevičius – A founder of Lithuania’s ‘National Symphonic Orchestra’, a conductor and arts manager. He received many awards both in Lithuania and foreign countries including the ‘Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas IV degree, Norway’s Order “For Merits”’, Lithuania’s ‘National Culture and Arts’ award, Portuguese order “Ordem do Merito Comendador”, order “For Merits to Lithuania”, and ‘Grand Cross of the Commander’.

NATIONAL DEFENSE

1. Jonas Kronkaitis – A former Commander of Lithuania’s armed forces and former Vice-Minister of National Defence, also a member and one of the many founders of the Baltic Institute Council. During the Soviet period, he was active in the Lithuanian community within the United States of America. He was once awarded the ‘Officer's Cross of Vytautas the Great Order’.

1. Danutė Lapėnaitė and Daiva Morozovienė – As a senior psychologist to Doctor Jonas Basanavičius, Major Danutė Lapėnaitė worked in the military medical services psychology section alongside military medical psychiatrist Captain Daiva Morozovienė. Both individuals have been organising voluntarily monthly meetings at the St. Ignotas Church for people who have experienced loss for the past eight years, greatly contributing to the general emotional and mental welfare of society.

1. Jonas Ohman – A Lithuanian Swede who works as a movie director, and as a manager of Blue/Yellow; a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which supports Ukraine, its Armed Forces and the civil population in Donbass area since 2014. Since its creation, this organisation has received over 1 million USD in donations, which were used to provide humanitarian support and to buy military equipment for Ukrainians. By protecting Ukraine’s independence, we are in turn protecting our own freedom; therefore, J. Ohman’s contribution to the activities of the organisation are also very important to Lithuania.

Jonas Vytautas Žukas – A former Lithuanian armed forces Commander. He has collected multiple awards including the ‘January 13^th’medal, ‘Lithuanian armed forces creator volunteer’ medal, ‘Lithuania‘s Independence’ medal, ‘Lithuanian armed forces’ medal “For Merits”, the ‘Cross of the Knights of Vytis Order’, ‘International Military Sports Council (CISM) Order “For Merits”’.