President Pavel meets with Czech community in Chicago

President Petr Pavel met with hundreds of Czech expatriates in Berwyn near Chicago, where he was greeted with traditional costumes and a brass band. The event, held at the Sokol Tábor Hall, marked the highlight of the Czech Heritage Week, running from September 21 to 28 under the patronage of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. In his speech, Pavel thanked the expatriates for keeping Czech traditions alive and emphasized the importance of strong ties between the U.S. and Europe. He also highlighted the upcoming introduction of postal voting for Czechs abroad, beginning next year. The evening included the launch of a book about the life of Eva Haňková, famously photographed with President Masaryk. On Friday, President Pavel will head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.