Taylor Run
Our neighbor Irina Woodruff tells me that 40,000 happy people are now celebrating a song and dance festival in Riga, the capital of Latvia, her native land. The festival happens every five years, under the offices of UNESCO, at an amphitheater which seats 500,000 people. Irina recalls singing in the festival back in the 1970s when she was in high school. This year marks the 20th occasion of the festival. The festival was sold out so early that very few of the inhabitants of Latvia are able to attend it; most tickets were sold to foreigners.
TRAGIC FIRE
Last week a terrible fire burned up the presidential palace in Riga. A heroic fireman climbed up a burning tower to rescue the flag. The government intends to rebuild the palace.
Latvia, formerly part of Russia, was independent from 1920 to 1939 when Germany and Russia split the country up. In 1991 Latvia regained independence when the U.S.S.R. collapsed.
Irina and her husband met 11 years ago and were married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church here in Alexandria. Irina has taught Latvian at the Lutheran church and at several language schools. Her son Gundars, 22, graduated from St. Stephens and the University of Virginia, where he is now working.