Lest We Forget

May 8, 1945 - The war is over in Europe!! Celebrations were held across Europe, and this site contains an interesting audio clip of a live radio broadcast from that day. http://hearitnow.umd.edu/1945.htm

Now designated as VE Day (Victory in Europe) this day is celebrated in many different ways in the various European countries.

Here in the Czech Republic, May 8 is a national holiday. Our section of the city holds a street fair (see previous post) with lots of beer, food, and music, but perhaps most importantly visual reminders of World War II and the troops that fought for freedom.

This modern Jeep displays a plate that echoes the sentiments expressed in many of the exhibits at the fair.


It appears that there are several groups of folks in the area who have preserved the clothing, uniforms, weapons and vehicles of the era, and they were present at the fair - representing American, Czech, Russian, French, British and Russian troops. These guys were apparently part of the resistance movement.


The vehicles on display were vintage WWII. They are all still running, and there was a parade of the vehicles and the troops.

Troop lineup....

We were struck by the thought that this young man is probably the age, or even slightly older, than the bulk of the soldiers in the war.

Those who died in the war are honored here by plaques on the buildings in which they lived, and we see far too many of them as we walk about the city- most with the date 1945.

This Jeep came from Normandy....

So, on this day, we remember all those who fought and died for their country- no matter where or when.