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Memorial Day Czech Style

7/2/2017

5 Comments

 
Submitted by Jim Kirk:

This is an amazing story of remembrance. In the Czech Republic, the school children of the equivalent of fifth grade are each assigned one of the American and Canadian liberators buried there. Their grave is the student's responsibility for the year and they learn all there is to know of their own hero. Their surviving family is sent letters and they respond to the annual child who tends their loved one's grave.

No apology needed here!

Have you ever wondered if anyone in Europe remembers America 's sacrifice in World War II? There is an answer in a small town in the Czech Republic . The town is called Pilsen (Plzen).


Picture
Every 5 years, Pilsen conducts the Liberation Celebration of the City of Pilsen in the Czech Republic. May 6th, 2010, marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen by General George Patton's 3rd Army.  Pilsen is the town that every American should visit, because they love America and the American Soldier.  Even 65 years later... by the thousands,
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The citizens of Pilsen came to say thank you. 
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From the large crowds, 
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to quiet reflective moments,
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to honor and remember their American hero. 
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This is the crash site of Lt. Virgil P. Kirkham, the last recorded American USAAF pilot killed in Europe during WWII. It was Lt. Kirkham's 82nd mission and one that he volunteered to go on.  At the time, this 20-year-old pilot's P-47 Thunderbolt plane was shot down, a young 14-year-old Czech girl, Zdenka Sladkova, was so moved by his sacrifice she made a vow to care for him and his memory. For 65 straight years, Zdenka, now 79-years-old, took on the responsibility to care for Virgil's crash site and memorial near her home.
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On May 4th, she was recognized by the Mayor of Zdenka's home town of Trhanova, Czech Republic, for her sacrifice and extraordinary effort to honor this American hero. 
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Another chapter in this important story... the Czech people are teaching their children about
America's sacrifice for their freedom. 

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American soldiers, young and old, are the Rock Stars these children and their parents want autographs from. 
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Yes, Rock Stars!  As they patiently waited for his autograph, the respect this little Czech boy and his father have for our troops serving today was heartwarming and inspirational. 
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The Brian LaViolette Foundation established The Scholarship of Honor in tribute to General George S. Patton and the American Soldier,  past and present. 
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Each year, a different military hero will be honored in tribute to General Patton's memory and their mission to liberate Europe.  This award will be presented to a graduating senior who will be entering the military or a form of community service such as a fireman, policeman, teacher or nurse--a cause greater than self. The student will be from 1 of the 5 high schools in Pilsen, Czech Republic. 
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The first award will be presented in May 2011 in honor of Lt Virgil Kirkham, that young 20-year-old P-47 pilot killed 65 years ago in the final days of WWII. 
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Presenting Virgil's award was someone who knows the true meaning of service and sacrifice... someone who looks a lot like Virgil--Marion Kirkham, Virgil's brother, who himself served during WWII in the United States Army Air Corps!!! 
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In closing, here is what the city of Pilsen thinks of General Patton's grandson.  George Patton Waters (another Rock Star!), we're proud to say,  serves on Brian's Foundation board. 
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And it's front page news over there--not buried in the middle of the social section. 
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Brigadier General Miroslav Zizka, 1st Deputy Chief of Staff, Ministry of Defense, Czech Armed Forces. 
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Notice the flags? Share this with your family and friends ... every American should hear this story.
5 Comments
William Teague
7/12/2017 13:42:48

We in America had that kind of reverence after WW11, but today a vast number of non-patriots revile the very military that is keeping them safe.

Reply
Katherine Schiffer
7/12/2017 15:42:29

Thank you Czech people for honoring our American heroes.
So wonderful to see recognition of what our soldiers did to save
Your country and people. Sadly, I think lots of European countries have forgotten. president Trumps speech in Poland was heartfelt for Americans and countries like yours. God Bless Czech Republich, always fight for freedom.

Reply
Frank Castillo
7/19/2017 06:36:10

Showing one's appreciation is a type of humility based on a sincere expression of thanks. The Czech Republic suffered under the Nazis, then under the Communist. Like many countries who suffered under totalitarian rule, they looked to the United States as an example of how things should be. They were fortunate in both having been liberated and now enjoy those freedoms that were so elusive back then. May the people of the Czech Republic maintain their freedom...and may they never forget the sacrifices made by the Americans!

Reply
Doug LaViolette link
5/31/2019 19:41:42

My name is Doug LaViolette and I was proud to pen this story and take the photographs featured in your post back in 2010.

I have know returned from my 10th Liberation Festival trip to Pilsen. And each year I return to America with a renewed spirit of appreciation for the citizens of Pilsen. They continue to keep their promise that they will never forget the heroism of the American soldier.

Thank you for continuing to tell this important story.

Reply
Handyman Cicero link
9/29/2022 10:14:32

Awesomee blog you have here

Reply



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This web page is a work in progress. It has been created through the donated efforts of Laura Genant Martin, Dick Martin, and Jim Hornstra. When Laura was made aware of what we needed, she took the initiative to research and educate herself on how to create a web site to identify, respect and honor the military veterans in Springfield. The web site had to be easy to navigate and had to provide the viewer a method of providing feedback. Most of the written material has been provided by Dick Martin over the past couple of years with some important contributions from others, i.e. Jim Kirk.  Jim Hornstra has been the reliable source as he has been the collector of information concerning Springfield Veterans and has provided Laura much of what has gone into the web site.
  • World War I
    • Veteran Photos
    • Veteran Photos
    • Biographies >
      • Edwin Dwight Wood
  • World War II
    • The Rest of the Story >
      • Lawrence Namminga
      • Fred C Hornstra
      • Chuck Dawes
      • Grover DeLong
      • John Palsma
      • Clarence Ludens
      • Jack Martin
      • Bob Slade
      • Joe Uken Jr
    • Springfield Was There
    • Biographies A-H >
      • Walter Babcock
      • Wayne Barham
      • Charles "Chuck" Dawes
      • Grover DeLong
      • Jake DenOuden
      • Biographies K-Ma >
        • Bernard Kastein
        • James Kirk
        • Leonard Lange
        • Ted Lindeman
        • Clarence Ludens
        • John C. Ludens
        • John "Jack" Martin
        • Richard "Darby" Martin
      • Robert DeRoos
      • Shorty Halsey
      • Nanno Hiemstra
      • Fred C Hornstra
    • Biographies Mi-O >
      • Floyd Mitchell
      • Jacob Namminga
      • Lawrence Namminga Sr
      • Ode Odens
      • Lawrence Owens
    • Biographies P-S >
      • Allen Palsma
      • John Palsma
      • Virgil Rauch
      • Jack Rich
      • Robert Slade
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      • Clark Thomas
      • Neil Thomas
      • Merle Toyne
      • Joe Uken
  • Korean War
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      • Robert "Bob" Ludens
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      • Donald Dempster
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      • Virginia McClure
      • Donald McMillan
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      • Wilbert Renner
      • Clarence Vanderlei
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