Nation bids farewell to Koivisto

The nation on Thursday said goodbye amidst state honour and with due respect to the late former president Mauno Henrik Koivisto, the Father of Finland’s “Second Republic”.

About 30,000 people including government high-ups were present at state funeral of the ninth president of the country, who was buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery that includes the graves of former presidents Urho Kekkonen and RistoRyti after his funeral held in the Helsinki Cathedral.

The funeral began with placing floral wreaths at the coffin of the late president by close relatives, President Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, Speaker of Parliament Maria Lohela and former presidents Martti Ahtisaari and Tarja Halonen with politicians, government officials, academicians, social and cultural activists, and business leaders present.

Bishop Eero Huovinen administrated the funeral sermon where he highlighted Koivisto’s human side. The bishop pointed out an anecdote from Koivisto’s wartime service, which spanned both the Winter and Continuation wars in which Koivisto served in legendary war hero Lauri Törni’s unit.

During the funeral Surusoitto (mournful music) by Jean Sibelius was played, after which the Helsinki Cathedral boys’ choir Cantores Minores performed Taneli Kuusisto’s Suomalainenrukous (Finnish Prayer).

The organist at the funeral service was Seppo Murto, the cantor was Harri Viitanen and the choirmaster was Conductor Hannu Norjanen.

At the end of the funeral, the choir presented the Finlandia hymn by Jean Sibelius. The concluding music was Narvanmarssi (March of Narva) played by the Guards Band.

The funeral cortege left the Helsinki Cathedral at 2.30 pm and arrived at the Hietaniemi Cemetery at about 3.00 pm.

Led by the mounted police, the cortege proceeded along the Unioninkatu - Aleksanterinkatu - Snellmaninkatu - Vironkatu - Meritullinkatu – Pohjoisranta - Pohjoisesplanadi - Mannerheimintie - Arkadiankatu - Hietaniemi Cemetery.

The cortege stopped outside the Government Palace, the Bank of Finland, and the Presidential Palace where the late president worked for a long time during his prolong professional life.

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä made the memorial speech where he pointed out various aspects of the eventful life of Mauno Henrik Koivisto.

“We bid him farewell. Mauno Koivisto, former president of the republic, has departed. Although, through him, one era ends, he will live long in our hearts. Mauno Koivisto was the herald of the Finnish dream,” said the prime minister.

He said Koivisto died on Snellman Day, the day on which we celebrate Finnish heritage, and in the same year in which Finland celebrates 100 years of its independence. Mauno Koivisto’s life encapsulates the history of independent Finland.

“Today, Finland is one of the world’s most successful countries, measured by success in material wealth, quality of education, happiness, reliability of public administration and fulfilment of human rights. Mauno Koivisto was both a visionary and a player in this success story,” said Sipilä, adding that as a person, Mauno Koivisto realised the Finnish dream.

He said that even though his (Koivisto’s) term as the president ended 23 years ago, his imprint on the life of society today remains strong.

“As a foreign policy leader, he piloted Finland with a sure hand from the world of the Cold War into the European Union,” said the PM.

He said Koivisto was not only a highly educated but also a civilised man in the deepest sense of the word. He was faithful to the values he embraced. The spiritual heritage of his home supported him throughout his life.

Koivisto passed away on May 12 in a hospital in Helsinki at the age of 93. He was the president of Finland from 1982 to 1994.