On Veterans Day, the Pilsen Region pays tribute not only to the end of World War I, but also to the soldiers who lost their lives on foreign missions. This year, a significant commemorative ceremony once again took place in Pilsen at Milada Horáková Square, by the monument dedicated to those who fell in the fight for peace. Flowers were laid on behalf of the Pilsen Region by First Deputy Governor Petr Vanka, joined by representatives of the Czech Army, war veterans’ associations, and representatives of the City of Pilsen and its municipal district.
As in previous years, the ceremony also included the presentation of awards to veterans, as well as to municipal and state police officers. The awards were presented by the Director of the Pilsen Regional Military Command. Attendees observed a moment of silence in memory of soldiers who have died on foreign missions—thirty in total since 1989.
Two of them came from the Pilsen Region:
Warrant Officer (in memoriam) Nikolaj Martynov, 3 May 2007 – Afghanistan
Staff Warrant Officer (in memoriam) Patrik Štěpánek, 5 August 2018 – Afghanistan
This year, representatives of the region, veteran associations, and the City of Pilsen also gathered in Brojova Street to honor war veterans and victims of armed conflicts. To pay tribute to the two fallen soldiers, Martynov and Štěpánek, regional representatives laid flowers at their memorial sites in Mokrouše and Štěnovice, the home villages of the young servicemen.
On the occasion of Veterans Day, eleven soldiers were honored with a plaque and a commemorative certificate from the Governor of the Pilsen Region for their participation in foreign missions. The traditional ceremony, founded by former Governor Ilona Mauritzová, was hosted at the Semler Residence in Pilsen. On 5 November, nine war veterans received their awards in person.
Veterans Day falls on 11 November, a date recognized across the Western world as the symbolic end of the First World War. In the Czech Republic, the holiday has been observed since 2004.
“The awards I was able to present today are an expression of our gratitude and respect. The service of war veterans proves that freedom and peace are essential values for our society and that it is crucial for us to fully appreciate them,” said Jan Bozděch, Deputy Governor for Social Affairs, who presented the awards on behalf of the Pilsen Region.
The ceremony was also attended by representatives of veteran organizations, the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic, and the Regional Military Headquarters in Pilsen.
The event included a moment of remembrance for soldiers who lost their lives during foreign missions.
Honored War Veterans in 2025:
Major Petr Ruhsam, MSc
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997–1998)
ALTHEA mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2005)
KFOR mission, Kosovo (2009)
Captain Jozef Pinďák
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999)
Captain Radek Šamša, MSc
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999)
Master Sergeant Michal Vondraš
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1998–1999, 2000–2001)
ENDURING FREEDOM mission, Iraq (2003)
KFOR mission, Kosovo (2007–2008)
ISAF mission, Afghanistan (2009)
EUTM mission, Mali (2016)
Warrant Officer Jindřich Beran
EUTM mission, Mali (2015–2016)
EFP mission, Lithuania (2018–2019)
MN BG mission, Slovakia (2022)
Warrant Officer Miroslav Krátký
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997–1998)
Warrant Officer Karel Ševčík
ISAF mission, Afghanistan (2002; 2006–2008)
ENDURING FREEDOM mission, Iraq (2003)
KFOR mission, Kosovo (2008–2009)
Warrant Officer Jiří Trnka
UNPROFOR mission, Croatia (1994–1995)
UNCRO mission, Croatia (1995)
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997)
Staff Sergeant David Rossi
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000)
ISAF mission, Afghanistan (2002–2003)
ENDURING FREEDOM mission, Iraq (2003)
KFOR mission, Kosovo (2005–2006; 2010)
Sergeant First Class Petr Holec
UNPROFOR mission, Croatia (1992–1993; 1994–1995)
UNCRO mission, Croatia (1995)
Sergeant Pavel Franěk
UNPROFOR mission, Croatia (1994–1995)
UNCRO mission, Croatia (1995)
IFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996)
SFOR mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996–1997)