In 1934, the members of the Palanga branch of the Union of
Nationalists planted an oak tree at the foot of Birutė Hill in honor of
the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona, and
named it the Oak of the Leader of the Nation. The name stuck, as did
the oak tree. Now it is a mighty tree. In the past, the ground around
the oak tree had a sandy background with the inscription
'Congratulations to the Leader of the Nation'. Antanas Smetona is
very important to Palanga - he studied and formed his personality
here, he strived to build Palanga for Lithuania and spent many
summers in this resort. It is symbolic that the oak tree of the Leader of
the Nation grows close to the beach, as Antanas Smetona used to
enjoy sunbathing by the sea during his vacations.
The oak tree was planted in 1934 to celebrate his 60th birthday. In the
interwar period, everyone knew that this was the oak tree of the leader
of the nation. It didn't even need a plaque - the inscription of live
flowers framed the tree. People called it simply the Smetona Oak.
However, Smetona himself did not plant it. According to information
sources, on 1 May, Lithuania used to have tree-planting festivals. In
the 1 May 1934 issue of the newspaper "Lietuvos echo" it was
announced that all schools in Lithuania would plant trees: "The
Minister's consent has already been obtained, and an order has been
given to excuse all schools from school for one day, as every year, to
plant trees". The same message informed that in Kaunas, in the
gardens of the Military Museum, some student organizations and
Jaunoji Lietuva would take part in the ceremonial planting of an oak
tree of the Leader of the Nation. Other student groups will take part in
other tree-planting ceremonies led by Professor Tadas Ivanauskas. In
the issue of 3 May, it was reported that an oak tree was planted in
honour of A.Smetona at the Klaipėda summer resort in Smiltyne, near
the new path to the seaside. The issue of 5 May welcomed the fact
that such an oak tree had also appeared in Marijampolė, in the new
city garden. Many oak trees were planted for the President that day.
One of them is in Palanga.
The oak tree of the leader of the nation was saved from the axe of the
security service. When the then forester pointed out another oak tree,
it was cut down.

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