Czech President Pavel Meets NE Guard Leadership, Takes Part in Evening Reception
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen hosted an evening reception honoring Petr Pavel, president of the Czech Republic. The event in the State Capitol Rotunda capped a day of full activity for the Czech leader.
The visiting delegation arrived Wednesday evening. On Thursday, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, Nebraska Adjutant General (Maj. Gen.) Craig Strong and other senior Nebraska National Guard leaders, soldiers and airmen welcomed President Pavel to the Joint Force Headquarters to celebrate and discuss the Guard’s 33-year relationship with the Czech Armed Forces. It is believed to be the first time in the history of the Nebraska National Guard that the organization has hosted a head of state.
The official welcome at the base included three balconies packed with soldiers, airmen and civilian public servants.
“This was truly a monumental event for the Nebraska National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general. “After 33 years of partnering with the Czech Armed Forces and working together to address the many common challenges we face in the world, to have the actual Czech head of state visit us here in Nebraska was such an honor.”
“We are so pleased to have the President with us today,” said Lt. Gov. Kelly. “I think if we were to go around and have everyone in this entire building tell us what their family heritage is, I suspect that one out of every three, if not more, would be of strong Czech heritage.”
“The bonds have been very strong here recently with the Nebraska National Guard,” continued Lt. Gov. Kelly. “We are lucky to have you here for a few days. And we hope you enjoy it.”
Historically, Czech roots do run deep in Nebraska, which has the highest percentage of citizens, per-capita, who claim Czech as their heritage. That heritage is among the reasons Nebraska was selected to form a partnership with the Czech Armed Forces in 1993, through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. Texas is also part of that alliance. Today, the ongoing relationship remains the only tri-lateral State Partnership effort in Europe.
President Pavel said he was excited to have the opportunity to visit the Nebraska National Guard, adding that the welcome he received in Lincoln rivaled a similar farewell he received when he left NATO after having served for three years as the chairman of the Military Committee.
“But this is much better because it is a welcome. And it is a welcome in a country that is special to us -- we feel here like it is our home,” said President Pavel. “So, thank you for this welcome and we look forward to hearing about our special relationship and seeing what you do.”
During the two-hour visit, President Pavel received briefings on the Nebraska National Guard’s most recent engagements with the Czech Armed Forces along with information on planned future collaborations. He also learned more about how members of the Czech Armed Forces and the Nebraska National Guard are working together in such areas as cyber defense and aerial refueling.
Following the briefings, President Pavel and members of the delegation toured a Nebraska Air National Guard KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the Lincoln-based 155th Air Refueling Wing, as well as two Nebraska Army National Guard helicopters assigned to the Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 in Lincoln.
Strong said the visit helped highlight the importance of the work that members of the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard are continuing to do with the Czech Armed Forces.
“This was an extremely important event because it gave us an opportunity to celebrate the successes that we have had over the decades of our relationship with the Czechs while also reaffirming our commitment to the future,” said Strong. “We all know that we are facing an increasingly challenging and volatile world. As we work with the Czech Armed Forces and continue to learn from each other, we are helping each other build the capabilities that we need to best serve the citizens of our nations. We are clearly stronger together.”
Following a visit to Wilber, the Czech Capital of Nebraska, President Pavel joined Gov. Pillen at the Capitol for an official reception featuring ceremonial toasts and exchange of state gifts, including a personalized Nebraska license plate and a statue of Chief Standing Bear, symbolizing Nebraska’s history, heritage, and commitment to civil rights and freedom.
Prior to the start of the reception, Gov. Pillen and President Pavel held a joint news conference from the Governor’s Hearing Room. In his remarks, the Governor talked about his trade mission to Prague in the fall of 2024, the mutual focus on agricultural expansion, as well as America’s 250 celebrations. He emphasized the Czech Republic’s profound appreciation for liberty following the Fall of Communism in 1989.
“It’s really important that we need to speak into existence, how important, how blessed we are, and that freedom is not free, and how extraordinary our democracy is,” said Gov. Pillen. “After a few generations, we can become a little bit complacent, but it’s important that leadership talks about it, to make sure that we keep inspiring each other.”
President Pavel spoke warm words on the shared history linking Nebraska and the Czech Republic, pointing to military collaboration, economic cooperation, and academic partnerships. Notably, the University of Nebraska – Lincoln holds the longest continuously running Czech language and heritage program at any American university, dating back to 1907, which is now approaching its 120th anniversary.
Earlier in the day, President Pavel met with leaders at UNL to discuss expanding joint ventures across higher education, business, and research.
Referring to his visit in Wilber, President Pavel spoke about his appreciation for the generations of families who have preserved their ancestral roots.
“I was very pleased to meet people in Wilber because it was a very emotional meeting, so many people that associate themselves with Czech ancestry, and even though many of them don’t speak Czech, their enthusiasm for Czech culture and history and traditions is simply remarkable,” said President Pavel. “I was really moved how devoted they are to promote this heritage for next generations.”
“I hope that this relationship that we have today will grow stronger, because wherever there is goodwill, there will be, sooner or later, an action and I believe we are both inclined to act rather than talk,” added President Pavel. “So, we will move it further very quickly.”