Monument to the Fallen in Olonets expedition

Monument to the Fallen in Olonets expedition

On July 7, 1929, at the Lutheran cemetery of Salmi, on the grave of 34 fallen in the Olonets expedition, was unveiled a monument created by sculptor Alpo Sailo. The ceremony was attended Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Army Jäger Major-General Aarne Sihvo and Jäger Colonel Paavo Talvela, who said, among others, the following words:
“At the moment when the mortal remains of the heroes of Olonets were concealed in these mulches, at the same time the seed of freedom was also sown among the Karelian tribe. Mounted on this mound huge stone will serve as a reminder of our responsibility for the fate of the Karelian tribe.”

On the monument engraved the verses by Martti Haavio:

YOU FELL YOUNG
SEEING DOWN OF TOMORROW
FOR YOUR COUNTRY
FOR FAITH IN A TRIBUTE IDEA

Each of the buried heroes has its own stone name plate.