This is almost a holy shrine to Latvians, as this statue was put up in the thirties, during Latvia's first short-lived period of independence, and lasted through the Soviet era. I read that laying flowers at the foot of it was punishable by deportation to Siberia back then. These days, it feels very much like the heart of the city and indeed of Latvia, and it is a really moving monument, beautiful and striking too in its own way. I found myself moved by it, gazing up at it often, so I can't imagine how powerful it must be for Latvians themselves.
At the moment, the statue is being renovated so the bottom of the pediment is boarded off and can't be seen. There is usually an honour guard of soldiers around it and flowers are regularly laid there. The locals call the female figure at the top Milda, which is a common female first name in Latvia. More practically, being so high and at the centre of town, it's a great orientation point. You cannot miss this, in either sense of the word.