Several community activists abroad are among the most recent recipients of Latvian state awards, the Chapter of Orders has announced in Rīga.

Receiving the Order of Three Stars, Fourth Class, are community activists Oļģerts Kubuliņš of Ohio and Juris Padegs of New York, as well as community activist, teacher and Treji Vārti editor Julieta Rumberga of Michigan.

The Order of the Three Stars (Triju zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian honor Latvia bestows. It is awarded for “outstanding merit in the service of Latvia,” according to the Chapter of Orders.

The chapter, part of the president’s office, announced the most recent awards on March 30.

The Order of Three Stars, Fifth Class, goes to Tija Krūmiņa, a community activist from Maryland and general secretary of the World Federation of Free Latvians (Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienība); to Jānis Kunga, a professor and member of the board of the Dzintars Latvian Cultural Society in Krasnojarsk, Russia; to Vilis Mileiko, a community activist and doctor in Ontario; and to community activist and doctor Dzintars Rolands Paegle from Indiana.

In all, 35 Latvians in the homeland and abroad are among the most recent recipients of the Order of Three Stars.

Awarded the Cross of Recognition, Fourth Class, are Andris Ķesteris, a community activist and vice chairperson of the Latvian National Association in Canada, and Valdis Vilnis Pavlovskis, a community activist and head of the Information Office for the American Latvian Association.

The Cross of Recognition (Atzinības krusts) is awarded for “outstanding patriotism and achievements for the good of the nation, society, culture, science, sports and education,” according to the Chapter of Orders. In all, 33 persons were awarded the Cross of Recognition.

The Chapter of Orders also awarded 23 men and women in Latvia the Order of Viesturs (Viestura ordenis), which honors outstanding merit in military service.