Latvia staged a grand military parade on Sunday to mark the country's 94th anniversary of independence.

The Baltic country first declared independence on Nov. 18. 1918.

A grand military parade was held on the right bank of the Daugava in Old Town of Riga. Thousands of spectators, including many older people from different Latvian regions, braved the chilly weather and gathered for the event.

Latvian President Andris Berzins addressed the military forces, he said choosing a military profession required more than just physical endurance and bravery, but also a passion to die for one's fatherland.

Besides the regular forces, the parade was also attended by the national guards, the frontier force, the state police and state emergency service of Latvia.

In addition to the Latvian soldiers, Estonian, Lithuanian and Norwegian armed forces also participated in the parade.

The students of Baltic Defense College, the joint military educational institutions of the three Baltic states, attended the parade, too.

It was the 11th military parade in honor of the independence of Latvia on November 18, 1918.