When I was twenty years old, I had the chance to go to Czechoslovakia after the 1989 Velvet Revolution.
The Berlin Wall had recently fallen and the world was beginning to change.
The stronghold of Communism rule was slowly deteriorating, and I witnessed an amazing time in history.
The Russians were still on the border when we arrived as the country was in transition.
I witnessed crowds of people pressed against the doors of churches and pouring out into the street just to listen to a religious service in a language that they could not understand.
They had lived under 40 years of communist rule and this had become a way of life.
The people were such an inspiration to me because they understood what was truly important in this world- family, friendship and freedom.
Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who repeatedly went to jail to demonstrate an enduring attachment to democratic values, was elected as Czechoslovakia's first non-Communist president in more than four decades on December 30, 1989.
When I arrived in March 1990, the country was having their various elections and just witnessing democracy in action was amazing.
I vividly remember one particular sign that was promoting a party that when translated revealed the words "Friends of Beer".
This made me realize that no matter how difficult I thought my life, I had the ultimate blessing of Freedom that our men and women have fought so hard to maintain since the initial vision of our forefathers of the American Revolution.
Today, the country of Czechoslovakia is no more.
The return of democratic political reform saw a strong Slovak nationalist movement emerge by the end of 1991, which sought independence for Slovakia.
When the general elections of June 1992 failed to resolve the continuing coexistence of the two republics within the federation, Czech and Slovak political leaders agreed to separate their states into two fully independent nations.
On this Memorial Day, take the time to reflect on these everyday heroes.
According to Hope4Heroes.
org these are some things you can do to show honor to those that have served our nation.
Just pick one and focus on doing it all year long.
1.
Shake a hand in public or place a flag in honor of the fallen.
2.
Visit a VA or Military Hospital and read a book.
3.
Join us at one of our events and say thanks.
4.
Contact us to put an event on in your city or state to honor veterans.
5.
Donate a gift card.
6.
Wear one of our hero memorial bands and share it with others.
7.
Host a backyard BBQ and invite just one veteran from your neighborhood.
8.
Volunteer, get involved and join an organization just 5 hours a month to do care packages and letters for members here and deployed.
9.
Teach your kids about history and get a school to do a letter drive! 10.
Send a care package directly or through an organization to our men and women overseas.
The Berlin Wall had recently fallen and the world was beginning to change.
The stronghold of Communism rule was slowly deteriorating, and I witnessed an amazing time in history.
The Russians were still on the border when we arrived as the country was in transition.
I witnessed crowds of people pressed against the doors of churches and pouring out into the street just to listen to a religious service in a language that they could not understand.
They had lived under 40 years of communist rule and this had become a way of life.
The people were such an inspiration to me because they understood what was truly important in this world- family, friendship and freedom.
Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who repeatedly went to jail to demonstrate an enduring attachment to democratic values, was elected as Czechoslovakia's first non-Communist president in more than four decades on December 30, 1989.
When I arrived in March 1990, the country was having their various elections and just witnessing democracy in action was amazing.
I vividly remember one particular sign that was promoting a party that when translated revealed the words "Friends of Beer".
This made me realize that no matter how difficult I thought my life, I had the ultimate blessing of Freedom that our men and women have fought so hard to maintain since the initial vision of our forefathers of the American Revolution.
Today, the country of Czechoslovakia is no more.
The return of democratic political reform saw a strong Slovak nationalist movement emerge by the end of 1991, which sought independence for Slovakia.
When the general elections of June 1992 failed to resolve the continuing coexistence of the two republics within the federation, Czech and Slovak political leaders agreed to separate their states into two fully independent nations.
On this Memorial Day, take the time to reflect on these everyday heroes.
According to Hope4Heroes.
org these are some things you can do to show honor to those that have served our nation.
Just pick one and focus on doing it all year long.
1.
Shake a hand in public or place a flag in honor of the fallen.
2.
Visit a VA or Military Hospital and read a book.
3.
Join us at one of our events and say thanks.
4.
Contact us to put an event on in your city or state to honor veterans.
5.
Donate a gift card.
6.
Wear one of our hero memorial bands and share it with others.
7.
Host a backyard BBQ and invite just one veteran from your neighborhood.
8.
Volunteer, get involved and join an organization just 5 hours a month to do care packages and letters for members here and deployed.
9.
Teach your kids about history and get a school to do a letter drive! 10.
Send a care package directly or through an organization to our men and women overseas.
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