Located near the Konnevesi Chapel, the Memorial for Those Left in Karelia was erected in 1975 by the Konneveden Karjalaiset Association. It is dedicated to those who perished in Karelia during the wars and could not be buried in their home soil. The monument is a quiet tribute to lives interrupted and to the longing for the homeland left behind.

The memorial is part of Finland’s broader tradition of remembrance – a recognition of the generations who endured war, evacuation and separation. It offers a place for reflection and gratitude, connecting personal loss with national history.

A photograph from the spring of 1987 shows local scouts Riitta Minkkinen and Kalle Pakarinen standing on watch beside the monument – a gesture of respect that continues across generations.

As part of the Konnevesi churchyard’s collection of memorials, the monument to those left in Karelia stands as a lasting symbol of remembrance, faith and the unbroken connection to one’s roots.