The five-day Liberation Festival began today with acts of remembrance on Chodské náměstí, in Husova Street and at the General George S. Patton Memorial

Representatives of the city of Pilsen, together with family members of American and Belgian veterans, laid flowers on Friday morning at the monument to the 2nd Infantry Division of the US Army on Chodské Square, where Tom Duncan, son of veteran James H. Duncan, spoke. Sixty-two-year-old Tom Duncan, who has come to Pilsen for the fifteenth time, said in his speech that his father James saw Pilsen as his second home. "Every time he was here, even as an old man, he always changed and was full of life, happiness and joy. Because he was here with all of you. I am very grateful to you for loving him so much," he said. He added that he did not go to war to become a hero and to win "metals". "He didn't expect anyone to thank him for his actions, but he did it out of conviction and love for his country. And because he believed that everyone has the right to be free. Despite what you may have heard recently, most Americans still feel that way today," he said, for which he received applause.

Major Chris Ingram, grandson of veteran Earl, said at the 2nd Infantry Division monument that democratic nations gradually built a defensive alliance after the war. “As the space of freedom expanded to the East, our alliance grew. Today, the Czech Republic and the United States stand together in NATO. And they swore to defend each other, just like other members, and to defend each other’s freedom,” he said. He added that if his grandfather were in Pilsen today, he would thank everyone present for remembering the stories of the 2nd Infantry Division.

Chris Ingram was a combat platoon commander in the 2nd Infantry Division and now works as a military strategist in Kaiserslautern, Germany. “It’s great that even though we’re further and further from the end of the war, it’s still alive and people are interested in it,” he told ČTK. He appreciated that over 200 people came to the monument to share their stories. "My opinion as a citizen and an American is that just as my grandfather and other veterans fought for freedom, there is still a need to fight for it anywhere in the world," he said.

Kathleen Hoffman, daughter of American veteran Charles Robert Lemmons, spoke at the 16th Armored Division monument on Husova Street. She recalled her father's early days in the army, as well as his trip through Europe and stay in Bohemia. This was Kathleen's tenth time attending the liberation celebrations.

In Husova Street, flowers were also laid at the monument to Czechoslovak soldiers fighting on the Western Front in 1940–1945 and at the monument to G. S. Patton in the Pětatřicátníků orchards.

Source of information: ČTK and www.plzen.eu