The Liberation Festival concluded with a commemorative act at the Thank You, America! monument

The five-day marathon of celebrations, which attracted tens of thousands of people to the metropolis of West Bohemia, culminated on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Exactly 81 years after the tanks of General Patton's 3rd Army entered the streets of Pilsen, the city's residents and distinguished guests honored the memory of the heroes at the Thank You, America monument! The most powerful moments were the personal greetings of American veterans, who, despite their venerable age, did not hesitate to weigh the journey across the ocean.

The traditional act of respect became a symbolic dot after this year's Liberation Festival. The atmosphere of the area at the intersection of Americká and Klatovská streets was enhanced by the presence of two direct participants in the battles in Europe - the centenary Joseph Thurmond and the one-year-old Gideon Kantor. It was the words of the veterans that aroused the greatest emotions among those present. Gideon Kantor, a former member of the 4th Armored Division, returned to the days of May 1945, when his unit crossed the border into Sušice. “It was an amazing feeling to be suddenly in a country that was starting to be free again. I would like to thank all the people of Pilsen for what they did to make me remember that amazing feeling,” Kantor said. He also recalled the hospitality of the locals with a smile: “One of the things that still vividly comes to mind today is the incredible taste of the sweet treats they offered me in Sušice. It was a wonderful experience.” The other hero, Joseph Thurmond of the 94th Infantry Division, did not hide his admiration for how the city had changed since the war. Although he modestly noted that he was not a “camp orator” and his voice was failing a little, he received thunderous applause. His son Michael then humorously commented on his father's transformation in the public eye: "My dad says that when he served here in 1945, he had the rank of private. Now he is treated everywhere like a general." Representatives of the diplomatic corps also emphasized the importance of freedom and common values. US Ambassador Nicholas Merrick recalled that this year's celebrations are connected with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. "Our nations are walking a common path, which is based on the same fundamental values," he said.

The key role of Belgian soldiers was not forgotten either. Ambassador Jurgen van Meirvenne and Luc Rensonnet, son of the commander of the Belgian 17th Rifle Battalion, praised the courage of young volunteers from the province of Liège, who, in the ranks of the US Army, helped liberate Western Bohemia at the cost of great sacrifices.

In his speech, the Mayor of Pilsen, Roman Zarzycký, thanked both the Allied armies and the citizens of Pilsen at the time. “Freedom was won by specific people who did not hesitate to risk their lives. At the same time, we also remember our own citizens today. Their bravery was quiet, but all the more significant,” the Mayor emphasized.

The memorial service was attended by a number of guests of honor from the Government of the Czech Republic, Parliament, the army and academia. By laying flowers at the memorial, they jointly confirmed that the legacy of 1945 remains alive in Pilsen. This year's Liberation Festival lasted from Friday, May 1, and thanks to the sunny weather, they confirmed their status as one of the largest European commemorative events of the end of World War II.