When living overseas, there aren’t a ton of places for Americans to celebrate the greatness of our nation. (Yes, I love my country. Yes, I know it’s not in fashion. Deal with it.) So when the celebrations commemorating the liberation of the Czech Republic from the Nazi occupation came around, I jumped at the chance to partake. I also took the opportunity to take Little NH1 along for a bit of a history lesson.
Five years may seem like a tender age to be learning about geopolitics of the past and present but I’d rather get my viewpoint in there before she gets a skewed version from some other source. On our walk to the event, we talked in general terms about WWII and about what brave American soldiers did for the Czech people and much of Europe all of those years ago. I explained that the Czechs are our allies (like our friends) and described Hitler and the Nazis (a big army led by a very, very bad man). It seemed to click with her and I’m looking forward to hearing her version in a few days or weeks when I least expect it. That’s how those things happen.
The celebration itself took place on a warm Friday morning in front of the US Embassy in Prague. Though the US actually only liberated the country up through Plzen in the west, the celebration starts in Prague and continues around the country for the next week or two. The street in front of the embassy was lined with restored motorcycles and Jeeps belonging to enthusiasts from around Europe. A big band was assembled on the street and played patriotic songs and swing tunes of the era.
Little NH1 heard Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” and appeared to be just about as taken by it as her dad. An impromptu Czech couple danced to the music and the crowd mulled around admiring the vehicles and the glorious weather and celebrating the commemoration of the liberation of the Czech people.
As we walked away from the celebration to return her school, she told me, “Daddy, I’m glad we’re Americans.”
Mission accomplished.
NotHemingway 
Nice story, made me smile 🙂
I would love to go.. do they do this every year?