Mass for veterans marks second day of Liberation Festival in Plzeň

The Liberation Festival in Plzeň, commemorating 80 years since the city’s liberation by the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, continued on its second day with a solemn mass in St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral. Celebrated in Czech and English by Bishop Tomáš Holub, the service honored veterans and war victims. It was attended by relatives of American and Belgian liberators and historical reenactors. The ceremony began with a procession of historic flags and the sound of bagpipes. With large crowds expected, police presence has been increased, including joint Czech-German patrols, to ensure public safety.