From May 5 to 8, they will be offering military history camps, memorial services, concerts, exhibitions, games for the whole family, charity events, as well as a major memorial service at Thank You, America! and military historical equipment convoys. The parade on Sunday, May 7, will be larger, more than 280 historical military equipment and about a thousand people in uniforms and ancient clothes will travel along a two-kilometer route along Klatovská třída, organizers told journalists today.

Veterans from the United States and Belgium, who liberated the city in May 1945, attended the Independence Celebration, which was held for the first time just after the revolution in 1990. But many had died, another man’s health, nearly a century old, no longer allowing them to complete demanding trips and programs. But this year, their descendants and families will come. “For us, the celebration is a symbol of peace, freedom and gratitude. No city celebrates the end of the Second World War every year in such a format,” said Mayor Roman Zarzycký (ANO).

One of the highlights of the celebration is the traditional Liberty Sunday Convoy. “This year there will be 40 to 50 more vehicles than in previous years,” said Jan Engler of the municipality’s celebration organizing team. According to him, in addition to the parade on the ground, tens of thousands of spectators gathered around the route, as well as a spectacle in the air. The Czech Republic Army will send two Gripen fighters, two Alca fighters and one Casa transport plane. The US Army will send a Stratotanker and two F-22 Raptor fighters from bases in Germany. For the first time, the iconic American fighter of the Second World War Mustang, as well as the Stinson aircraft, the American Stearman training biplane and the British Tiger Month training biplane will fly over Pilsen for the first time.

At the head of the convoy will be a Sherman tank, which this year’s military club members named after veteran George Thompson, a member of the 16th Armored Division, who drove the tank last year in Pilsen. It would be followed by the M8 Greyhound armored vehicle, the first to enter Pilsen on 6 May 1945. They would drive half the track, we had the Scout Car wheeled light reconnaissance carrier, the large Diamond heavy duty tractor, several versions of the GMC truck. Six-wheeler and four-wheeler Dodges, Harley Davidson motorcycles, dozens of jeeps – World War Two icons will drive,” said Pavel Rogl of the club’s 16th Armored Division.

In Křižíkovy sady and in Proluca, there will be a military camp in the center, where around 160 men in period uniforms will represent the life of American soldiers in 1945. They will sleep here, attend military programs, cook in an authentic field kitchen, maintain tools and equipment . There will also be a US Army evacuation hospital. In the park behind the Plaza shopping center, military history clubs representing soldiers of the Czechoslovak Independent Armored Brigade and the British Royal Air Force RAF will be camping with a replica Spitfire fighter. The next camp will feature Czech period hospitals, equipment, weapons, or field kitchens. separate armored brigade. The current Czech Republic Army will also be stationed behind the Plaza. The soldiers would carry, for example, the armored Pandur, the Tatra T-815 armored car, the Dana howitzer or the Arthur artillery radar. The US Army’s eight-wheeled Stryker armored personnel carrier will also be introduced. In front of the Peklo cultural center, there will be a JTF Raiders military history club with an exhibition of contemporary American infantry.

A new exhibition has been prepared by the Patton Memorial Museum Plzeň, the Post-War Years of Freedom exhibition will be held at Smetanavy Sady, the next exhibition will be held at the town hall mázhaus. The cultural program will take place on the stage at náměstí Republiky and in the amphitheater behind the Plaza.

This program is active website. Live alert service Thank you, America! and Freedom Convoy will be on Facebook for the city and its festivities.