Published in: Helsingin Sanomat, 15th of August, 2004

- ÅLAND IS REMEBERING THE OOLAND WAR

- Sund, Åland is celebrating the fall of Bomarsund fortification some 150 year ago, with many different events during the year. The first "Russian Days" which are celebrated near the ruins of Bomarsund fortification, are hoped to become an event which is held every year. Two people, walking in red & blue "French" uniforms, explain why there is need to celebrate the Russian defeat in the war during the year 1854. The Russian defeat in the war against British and French, was a victory for Åland, as after few years from the defeat, the Paris peace agreement was signed and it was agreed, that Åland should be a demilitarized area. Åland is preparing to have even bigger celebration after two years from now, as the demilitarization means, that the youth in Åland, doesn't have to participate to the compulsory military service in Finland. The people walking in French uniforms, explains that the uniforms are part of the play, which is based on real events. My qualifications for this play, is only the fact that I speak French, says the man who is also working in the Finnish EU-embassy, in Brussesl.

- The two Frenchmen are not the only ones who think that the fall of Bomarsund has a lot of things to celebrate. According to the people here, Bomarsund was a much more important fortification, than Kastelholma. Bomarsund was build during the period of 25 years and a lively community, Skarpans grew near of it. It was a multicultural place, where people talked many different languages and held a different nationalities. It's economical meaning to the surrounding area, was also huge. The Russians were much more popular here, than the Swedes, that ruled before the Russians. The reason for this was, that the Russians paid for the service, that the local people provided to them. 

- To honor the jubilee year, the local museum office has also tried to emphasize the meaning of Bomarsund to the modern demilitarized and autonomous Åland. There's a researcher, who's job is to gather new information about the history of the fortification. So far there's been some new information, like the fact that the British took three huge naval guns to the cliffs overlooking the fortification. From here, they were able to destroy one of the cannon towers in the fortification, in eight hours. Bomarsund would have not fallen that easily, if the Russians would have had the time to build the cannon tower to Pirunkallio, which was planned.