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Talvisodan muistomitalin mukana tullut kunniakirja. Paper certificate which was given with commemorative medal of The Winter War. Translation in English: HONOUR (picture) FATHERLAND Soldiers of Finnish army! You didn´t want war, You loved peace, work and progress, but You were forced to battle, where you all did great actions, those actions will shine in the Pages of History for centuries. I have fighted in several battlefields, but never earlier seen soldiers like you are. I´m proud of you like you all be my own children, I´m equally proud a men from arctic hill in North as well a men from flat lands of Bothnia, Karelia´s woodlands, Savo´s hills, fertile fields of Häme and Satakunta as well a men from Uusimaa´s and Varsinais-Suomi´s gentle broadleaf woodlands. I´m also equally proud the sacrifice, whose was offered by factory worker and poor cottage´s son like wealthy too. I thank all arms of Finland´s honourable army, whose in noble contest did heroic actions since the first day of war. I thank army for its bravery when it fighted against numerous times greater enemy, which was partly equipped with unknown weapons to us, and toughness which army used when it hold on every step of home country. With joy and proud I think every Lottas of Finland and their part in war - their sacrificial mind and restless work in many works, which free thousands men to the lines of fire. I also call to mind other countless group of women, who took part in the mission of fatherland. During war in the place of honour were also those thousand workers in factories, who often voluntary during air raid, worked hard to made equipments needed badly by army, and also they, who worked in under enemy fire to build military spots in front. With joy I noticed that our united nation wanted support its army all possible way. When our brave soldiers defended our borders, we needed to do outstanding efforts to get what we didn´t have, we builded defence lines what we didn´t have earlier, and we attempt to receive help what we never achieved. We attempt to get weapons and equipments during time, when every country was arming oneself for coming storm of world. Your heroic actions, soldiers, have admiration in every country, but after war which last three and a half month we was still almost alone. You were in the fights on all nights and days, without change to get rest, giving all out from your physical and mental capasity and hit down enemy force´s endless attacks, but after all our army stand unbeatable in front of enemy who had get terrible casualties but which was still even stronger enemy. Even our home front, where countless air raids spread out death and horror to the middle of women and children, didn´t give in. Our nation stand the test with extraordinary will. I thank mothers and fathers of soldiers who fall down as heroes, I thank every warrior of lines of fire and every active person in home front. In the name of Fatherland and as the Commander-In-Chief of Defence Forces I give you, XXXXXX XXXXXX commemorative medal of war 1939-1940. In Headquarter y(ear) 1940 Field Marshal Mannerheim (in seal read in finnish YLIPÄÄLLIKKÖ and same in swedish ÖVERBEFÄLHAVARE (in english commander-in-chief) |