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Ceremony at the Czechoslovak Memorial in Brookwood

On Sunday 6 May 2018, a Memorial Service on the occasion of the end of the Second World War in Europe was held at the Czechoslovak Monument at the Military Cemetery in Brookwood. The act  was organised by the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Association along with the Defence Attachées of the Czech and Slovak Embassies to remember the Czechoslovak soldiers and airmen who fought from British territory during WW2 and some of whom are buried at the cemetery.
 

The event was attended by over 100 people,  representatives of both Embassies – 1st secretary of the Czech Embassy Ms. Markéta Štěrbová, the Czech Defence Attaché Col. Jiří Niedoba, Slovak Ambassador H.E. Ĺubomír Rehák and Slovak Defence Attaché Col. Ján Goceliak - representatives of Czech and Slovak veteran associations and all those who wanted to pay tribute to the war heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of their homeland, their nation and the whole Europe.

Honorable guests also included the the Mayor of Woking, Cllr. Graham Cundy, representatives of Embassies from USA, France, Poland, Australia, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, representatives of the RAF Air Vice Marshal Graham Russell, UK MoD representative Mr. Steven Fisher as well as RAF Associations from Wreatham and Woking and the Polish Airmens Association.

Children, teachers and parents from the Czech School in Berkshire and the Czech School Without Borders attended as well to pay tribute to fallen Czechoslovak servicemen and to discover more about Czechoslovak resistance in exile during WW2.

The ceremony was narrated by Mrs. Gerry Manolas of the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Association (FCAFA). Colonel Niedoba and H.E. Rehák gave speeches followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers. The anthems of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United Kingdom were performed live by esteemed violinist Ms. Julie Svěcená, accompanied by singing of Mr. Stěpán Hobza. Children, teachers and parents from the Czech school Berkshire sang a traditional song so beloved by our soliders diring WW2 - "Škoda lásky" (Roll Out the Barrel). All the musical performances  had a great success. Afterwards, the children placed memorial crosses at some of the graves. During the refreshments provided by the Czech and Slovak Embassies, a quiz was prepared for children, with the theme of Czechoslovak exile resistence during WW2. At the end they were rewarded by a raffle with themed prizes provided by both the Embassies and plastic model kits donated by the Czech kit making company Kovozávody Prostějov.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation of the ceremony, the honorable guests and all the visitors who came on Sunday afternoon to honour those to whom we owe so much for our freedom and whom we shall never forget.

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Memorial ceremony in Brookwood on 6 May 2018