The Gate of Eternity
In front of the church stands Laihia’s oldest monument, erected in 1920 in memory of those who died in the Finnish Civil War. It is made of red granite and bears the inscription: For the Fatherland 1918. It was designed by Matti Visanti (Björklund). The unveiling ceremony was held on August 29, 1920.
Hulmi Battle Memorial
The memorial is also known as the Memorial to the Beginning of the War of Independence. It was erected at the site where the Battle of Hulmi and the War of Independence (the Finnish Cicvl War) began. The stone bears the inscription: “At this place, the men of Laihia began the WAR OF INDEPENDENCE on January 27, 1918.” On the side is the text: “For the homeland, the following fell here: Juho, Valo, Juho Filppula, Iivari Mäkelä, Uuno Kuivaniemi, Jussi Havusela.” The memorial was designed by Urho Lamminheimo. The unveiling ceremony took place on August 7, 1938.
Winter War and Continuation War Memorial
In front of the Gate of Eternity stands a kneeling male figure sculpted by Kalervo Kallio, also made of red granite. The memorial plaques for those who fell in the winter war and continuation war are behind the Gate of Eternity. The unveiling ceremony took place on August 17, 1952.
Memorial to Those Buried in Karelia
Next to the church, the Karelians of Laihia erected a memorial designed by teacher Yrjö Uimonen and made by the Tervajoki stone workshop. The inscription reads: “In memory of those left behind in Karelia. The Karelians of Laihia.” The unveiling ceremony was held on June 13, 1982.
Memorial to Those Fallen in the Battle of Napue
The memorial is located in the old cemetery. The names of all 120 fallen are engraved on it. It also bears the inscription: “In honor of the memory of the men from Laihia buried here who fell for the freedom of the fatherland in the Battle of Napue in 1714. Erected in 1925.” The
memorial was designed by Matti Visanti (Björklund).
Memorial to Mannerheim Cross Knight Eino Mallila
The memorial dedicated to Mannerheim Cross Knight Eino Mallila was erected during May–June 2025. The unveiling ceremony was held on 5 July 2025.
Laihian sotiemme veteraanit museoyhdistys ry carried out the acquisition and erection of a memorial to Eino Mallila, the only Mannerheim Cross Knight from the Kyrönmaa region. The memorial was placed next to the war heroes’ cemetery at Laihia Church. The aim is to preserve and keep alive the history and memory of past generations.
On 6 June 2024, the museum association received a proposal from its board member Antti Holappa that the association should commission a memorial to Mannerheim Cross Knight Eino Mallila and place it at Laihia Cemetery, near the war heroes’ graves. The board of the museum association considered the proposal and decided to launch a project to establish a memorial to our Knight.
On 28 November 2024, the museum association invited representatives of the Mallila family to a joint meeting at the museum. At the meeting, the association asked the family for permission to erect a memorial to Knight Eino Mallila at Laihia Cemetery. The family granted permission for the memorial on 10 December 2024.
Thereafter, on 12 December 2024, it was decided to apply to the parish for permission to place the memorial at the proposed site. A site inspection was carried out together with representatives of Laihia Parish, and the proposed location was found to be suitable. The parish granted permission for the placement of the memorial on 6 February 2025, after which an application for project funding was submitted to YHYRES Development Association.
The museum association decided to establish a working group to plan the memorial. The members representing the museum association were Olavi Koskinen, Reijo Lidman, Jari Mansikka-aho, Raija Löytölä and Antti Holappa. Ari Suokko, representing Tervajoen Kiviveistämö, the company that won the tender, also took part in the planning work. Erkki Väisänen was consulted as a representative of the Mallila family.
The project was made possible by the Municipality of Laihia, Laihia Parish, and EU Leader funding received through YHYRES Development Association.