The Tombstone Monument, Dedicated to Jonas Žilius-Jonila

A tombstone monument – a book – is built in the Kopgalis cemetery in Smiltynė, to commemorate Jonas Žilius-Jonila, the governor of Klaipėda.
J. Žilius-Jonila (1870–1932) was a prominent priest, writer, journalist, and civil activist, who supported the pursuit of Lithuanian independence and of the idea of national unity. He lived in the USA for some time, where he worked as the editor of the magazine Tėvynė (Homeland) and founded the Lithuanian Catholic Society called Mother. When Lithuania declared independence, J. Žilius-Jonila returned to the homeland. In 1925-1926, he was Lithuania’s representative for the Klaipėda region. Later, he was appointed governor of the Klaipėda region – the first ever to be appointed to the position. Throughout his life, Žilius-Jonila has written many poems, dramas, short stories, legends, journalistic and historical essays, and has translated some of Adomas Mickevičius’ writings. Jonas Žilius-Jonila died on the March 2nd, 1932.