Reflections on my Mother’s Life, the Baltic Cause and our Foundation
By Linas Kojelis
Co-Founder, The U.S.- Baltic Foundation
December 14, 2007 – Kaunas, Lithuania

 

            If you would ask me about some of the earliest memories of my life, they would include afternoons and evenings at our homes in Los Angeles watching my mother clean the house and prepare wonderful refreshments and dinners for our many guests.   More often than not, these included Estonian, Latvian and other friends of the Baltic States who came to our home routinely to meetings for our great common cause – freedom and democracy for these ancient and brave people.

            In the 1960’s, the driving force in California for bold political action was an organization called Americans for Congressional Action to Free the Baltic States.  Unlike traditional Lithuanian-American organizations, it applied modern American political organizational structure, strategies and tactics to the Baltic cause.  It united all American friends of the Baltics, not just persons of ethnic heritage.  It (along with the New York- based Baltic Appeal to the UN) established a principle that intra-Baltic cooperation was the best strategy to explain our purpose and goals to open-minded elected officials, the media and the general public.    The California group was headed by the most farsighted and modern Baltic strategist of his generation, Leonard Valiukas, who was effectively a member of our extended family and sat at our mother’s table for Sunday dinner more often than not.

No one can tote up the number of Lithuanian apricot tarts, apple crumble cakes, zagareliai and cups of coffee my mother served at what must have been hundreds of meetings and get-togethers.   For special occasions mother would serve heartier specialties like herring in onion-tomato sauce or with mushrooms and cream.  Our Estonian and Latvian friends proclaimed her herring dishes outstanding.  Our American friends would smile politely and say it was “very good.”

If it’s true that an “army marches on its stomach”, our Los Angeles friends would have promoted Elena Kojelis to the rank of general in the Baltic Freedom Quartermaster Corps.

After Mr. Valiukas’ passing, Americans for Congressional Action disbanded only to be resurrected in a new form -- the Baltic American Freedom League.  I was already working in the Reagan Administration in Washington, but know that it was my mother who welcomed Leslie Dutton, Valdis Pavlovskis, Vivi and Avo Piirisild, Tony Mazeika and many others to our home in the early 80’s, providing the sustenance for their hard work which resulted in the signing of the first Baltic Freedom Day Proclamation by President Reagan at a White House ceremony in June, 1983.

            When friends ask me about the founding of USBF in 1990, I often reply that “it began with a good idea and a blank computer screen.”  It was George Ramonas and I who came up with the “good idea.”  It was Elena and Joseph Kojelis who provided the computer screen, PC, keyboard, mouse, cables and printer.  As I recall, the cost for that hardware was roughly $4,000 (it’s amazing how the price of technology has dropped in 17 years).

But that was a very good investment by my parents as it was with that same HP computer that I wrote the first 50 or so proposals and appeals which generated perhaps $2,000,000 in grants, donations and other revenue to our Foundation.
Over the course of almost two decades my parents were reliable and generous donors to the foundation.  They did not always understand every tactic and nuance of our program development and fundraising work, but they believed in the cause and our team.

And, of course, the cause was not only noble, but also victorious.  In 1991, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania regained world recognition as independent states.  And unique among Baltic advocacy organizations in the West, USBF was perfectly pre-positioned to provide leadership training vital for their transition from Soviet communism to democratic, free market societies.

My parents came to the U.S. in the late 40’s as refugees from war torn Europe with little more than the proverbial shirts on their backs.   My mother inherited a small sum from a hotel her distant relatives owned in Los Angeles.  Elena and Juozas both worked hard and invested smart, including in the southern California real estate market.
After the turn of this century they decided to return to the land of their birth for their golden years.  They sold their home and investments and moved back to Kaunas, where both had lived before the war.

Pleased as they were with the progress independent Lithuania had made since 1991, they knew more work was needed.  Thus, upon departing the U.S., they established the Kojelis Family Fund at USBF to support education, research and democracy training – a permanent legacy to their lives and ideals.  Their $250,000 gift is by far the largest single contribution to USBF to date. 

It is our family’s and the Foundation’s hope that KFF serve as a model for others dedicated to the long term, strategic partnership between the United States and Baltic States.   We see USBF as “America’s community foundation” for the Baltic States.
While my mother’s passing this Monday brought great grief to our family and all those who knew, respected and loved her, we know that her memory will always be a part of the new initiatives and vibrancy of the Foundation as it approaches new challenges with commitment, creativity and optimism.

*   *   *   *   *

            I guess it’s true with all important initiatives and achievements that there are those who get the headlines, and others who work behind the scenes or provide critical support and resources quietly.  On this sad occasion of my mother’s passing, I thought it right to blow the trumpet for a good woman and a shining star in the creation and success of the U.S.- Baltic Foundation.

 

In lieu of flowers, gifts to the memory of Elena Kojelis may be made to the Kojelis Family Fund for education, research and democracy at the U.S.- Baltic Foundation [501(c) 3].
Gifts may be made online at www.usbaltic.org
Checks may be made out and mail to:

USBF-KFF
1701 K Street NW, Suite 903
Washington, DC 20006