The Bay Area’s Estonian American community gathered at San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday to commemorate Estonian Independence Day with the raising of the country’s flag.
“Today, we raise Estonia’s flag above City Hall,” said San Francisco chief of protocol Penny Coulter in a speech. “We celebrate not only independence, but imagination, resilience and the courage to keep building what comes next.”
Christine Morgan, Estonia’s honorary consul general in San Francisco, was joined by members of the Estonian American community in the region as well as the San Francisco consul generals of Lithuania, Georgia and Cyprus in the mayor’s office.
Mayor Daniel Lurie also declared Tuesday as Estonian American Friendship and Heritage Day in the city.
The country of Estonia, located in northeastern Europe, first declared independence on Feb. 24, 1918. But that freedom was brief as the Soviet Union then took over the nation during World War II and occupied the country for about 50 years until the fall of the Soviet Union.
Occupation and war prompted thousands of Estonians to flee the country, with some eventually settling in the Bay Area.
“My grandmother grew up in Estonia and emigrated as an orphan at 19 years old to see a better future in America,” Morgan said in an interview. “When I see the flag, I immediately think of resilience. I think of my grandma, and I think of the many Estonians that have had many seemingly insurmountable challenges and that they’ve overcome them.”
Small but close-knit community
The Estonian American community in the Bay Area, which established the Estonian Society of San Francisco and Northern California, is a small cultural group made up of first-generation Estonian Americans as well as native Bay Area residents with Estonian heritage.
Linnea Bartling, a board member of the society, was proud to see San Francisco recognize Estonian Independence Day and the local Estonian community.
“It’s very meaningful,” Bartling said in an interview. “Estonia is a small nation and so it’s always very meaningful to see its profile raised, especially locally where we can share our stories with friends and neighbors.”
While the raising of the blue, black and white flag over City Hall marked a day of cultural significance for the Estonian American community in the Bay Area, the day is also a somber one as it falls on the anniversary of the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War.
“While we celebrate Estonia’s 108th birthday today, let’s also keep a shared vision of Ukraine’s independence and regaining that. In some ways, Estonia’s continued independence depends on Ukraine’s regaining of its independence.
Christine Morgan, Estonia’s honorary consul general in San Francisco
Given the history of Soviet occupation in Estonia and its geographical location on the border of Russia, the Russia-Ukraine War hits close to home for many Estonians.
“While we celebrate Estonia’s 108th birthday today, let’s also keep a shared vision of Ukraine’s independence and regaining that,” Morgan said. “In some ways, Estonia’s continued independence depends on Ukraine’s regaining of its independence.”
Today, Estonia and Silicon Valley have close ties as Estonia is a leading nation in digital innovation and has the highest number of startups per capita in Europe. Many Estonian startups get funding from venture capital firms in the Bay Area.
“I hope to continue to help both San Francisco and Estonia keep these ties going strong, cultural, economic and any others,” Morgan said.
San Francisco in June will host the West Coast Estonian Days, a festival that celebrates connections between Estonia and Estonian Americans living on the West Coast.