(Plzen, CZ.) On May 6th, 1945 General George Patton's American 3rd Army liberated the western Czech city of Plzen from the Nazis. This past weekend (May 5, 2012) I drove an hour outside of Prague with my wife and son to the "Thank You to America" parade. What a great showing of support for what America did for this part of Bohemia! The people were wonderful as they paid tribute to the American forces that freed them from Nazi control.
This celebration is now over 20 years old.......a generation removed from the Communist's ban on telling the truth on who liberated the city. The people who lived it remembered but were not allowed to show any such tribute to the Yanks that rolled into town in their Sherman tanks back in '45.
Today two large granite pillars occupy downtown Plzen stating "Thank You America!".
During this annual celebration, nothing stops the outpouring of affection these Czechs have for the American troops then and now. I am glad my young son got to see this event and be proud of his American heritage.
I could not help to think of my grandfather's service in Europe as he pressed on from North Africa to Sicily and from Rome to Nancy, France. He was able to see some of this similar outpouring of joy back in 1945....something he never forgot.
I'm was very proud to be an American today and very thankful to the Czech people for remembering our "Greatest Generation" in this manner. Thank you Plzen!
This celebration is now over 20 years old.......a generation removed from the Communist's ban on telling the truth on who liberated the city. The people who lived it remembered but were not allowed to show any such tribute to the Yanks that rolled into town in their Sherman tanks back in '45.
Today two large granite pillars occupy downtown Plzen stating "Thank You America!".
During this annual celebration, nothing stops the outpouring of affection these Czechs have for the American troops then and now. I am glad my young son got to see this event and be proud of his American heritage.
I could not help to think of my grandfather's service in Europe as he pressed on from North Africa to Sicily and from Rome to Nancy, France. He was able to see some of this similar outpouring of joy back in 1945....something he never forgot.
I'm was very proud to be an American today and very thankful to the Czech people for remembering our "Greatest Generation" in this manner. Thank you Plzen!
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