Yesterday, members of the Army and the general public commemorated the War Veterans Day in many places in our country. In Prague, part of the celebrations were concentrated at the National Memorial at Vítkov, which was built to commemorate the Czechoslovak Legionnaires and the Czechoslovak resistance during the First World War. Here, soldiers, politicians and the public commemorated the victims and participants of the war. The War Veterans Day celebrations were also held at the Square of Peace in Prague 2, where there was a rich all-day programme.

Picture: In Prague, part of the celebration was again this year concentrated at the National Memorial at Vítkov | Jan Zilvar / CZ DEFENCE

The festive meeting at Vítkov was attended, among others, by Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Olga Richterová, Minister of Defence Jana Černochová, Chief of the General Staff Major General Karel Řehka, Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner and many other guests from home and abroad. This year's celebrations were not missed by Lieutenant General Miloslav Masopust, who fought on the Eastern Front during World War II.

On this occasion, Defence Minister Jana Černochová honoured more than 100 members of the 6th Field Hospital mission in Afghanistan who served in the country 20 years ago. According to Černochová, they were deployed in the country at a time when Afghanistan was recovering from war and the people there were not receiving enough care. Czech doctors and medical staff saved the lives of thousands of Afghans or significantly improved them, she said. Other recipients of the ministerial award included the staff of the Military History Institute for preparing very successful exhibitions in the newly reconstructed Army Museum Žižkov.

The ceremonial act at Vítkov was held in the presence of honorary units and historical battalions. In his speech, General Rehka emphasized that there are just over 120 World War II veterans in the Czech Republic, and over 16,000 modern veterans. He also added that the number of participants in modern missions is increasing practically every day, as the army currently has almost 800 soldiers in missions. Řehka also said that he was proud to be able to continue the tradition of the brave men of the Czechoslovak legions, thanks to whom an independent state could be established.

Picture: The main part of the celebrations took place on náměstí Míru in Prague 2 | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: Pandur wheeled armoured vehicles | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

The main part of the celebrations took place on náměstí Míru in Prague 2, where from 9 a.m. onwards the military equipment and armament of the Czech Armed Forces, historical military equipment and various presentation stands of the Czech Armed Forces were on display.

Picture: Presentation of the Czech Armed Forces (43rd Airborne Regiment) | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: Presentation of the Czech Armed Forces (102nd Reconnaissance Battalion) | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: Presentation of unmanned vehicles (533rd Unmanned Systems Battalion) | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Representatives of the Communication Department of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic prepared various presentations and competitions for interesting prizes within the framework of the POKOS project (preparation of citizens for national defence). A presentation stand of the state enterprise LOM Praha was also on display at the Peace Square.

Picture: Stand of the Recruitment Centre of the Czech Armed Forces | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: POKOS stand was literally under siege | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: Presentation within the POKOS program | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: Stand of the state enterprise LOM PRAHA | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

The programme included, among other things, the names of all our soldiers who died in the modern missions of the Czech army, whose memory was then honoured with a minute of silence. Each of these soldiers also had a cross with his name in the park within the grove of crosses.

Picture: Commemoration of the heroes who gave their lives in war conflicts (in the middle of the Minister of Defence Jana Černochová) | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

Picture: Commemoration of the heroes who gave their lives in war conflicts (in the middle of the Minister of Defence Jana Černochová) | Michal Pivoňka / CZ DEFENCE

War Veterans Day is always held on 11 November, when the Armistice came into force in 1918, ending the fighting of the First World War.  In the Czech Republic, War Veterans Day has been officially celebrated since November 2001.