Celebration of Freedom, 25 Years of Democracy – A Salute to Vaclav Havel

The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation participated in the Celebration of Freedom, 25 Years of Democracy – A Salute to Vaclav Havel,a week-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and President Havel’s victory over the totalitarian regime. 

The series of celebratory events started at the Bohemian National Hall with the launch of the ultimate biography Havel: A Life by its author Michael Zantovsky, Havel’s former press secretary and longtime friend, who was in discussion with David Remnick, The New Yorker editor, journalist and writer.

The highlights of the celebrations were two concerts of the Czech Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, the Gala Dinner, the conference at the Library of Congress on Havel’s legacy and the dedication of Vaclav Havel bust in the U.S. Capitol. 

The events were attended by Mrs. Dagmar Havlova, the wife of the late Vaclav Havel, Czech government high representatives including Jan Hamacek, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, and Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. John Boehner, Speaker of the House, and Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the House, were among the US politicians who paid tribute to the Czech President.

The Celebration of Freedom was prepared by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel Library Foundation, American Friends of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel Center at Florida International University, Library of Congress, Prague Freedom Foundation, and Vaclav Havel Library. 

For more information on all the events of the Celebration of Freedom, please see: www.25yearsofdemocracy.org