Vaclav Havel Bust Dedication at U.S. Capitol
A bust of Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, was dedicated at a U.S. Capitol ceremony on Wednesday, November 19.
The official speeches were delivered by John Boehner, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, and Congressman Ed Royce. The Czech Republic was represented by Jan Hamacek, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament, and the Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
The bust was unveiled by Mrs. Dagmar Havlova, Havel’s artistic background was reminded by the performance of ZZ Top bandleader Billy Gibbons. The artist of the bust is the Czech-American sculptor Lubomir Janecka.
In his remarks, John Boehner said: “It takes guts to do these things. Especially when you don’t know how long it will take or how it will end. These men and women proved that the thirst for liberty never dies and that, with drive and sacrifice, it can transform the fortunes of a whole continent.”
“The unveiling of a bust of our former president is a great event for all of us. Vaclav Havel is the fourth European politician which has received such a distinction. The United States and the Czech Republic share values such as our faith in freedom and preservation of freedom and human rights. Vaclav Havel fought for the same things,” said Speaker Hamacek.
The Vaclav Havel bust was made possible thanks to the efforts of the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation in collaboration with the American Friends of the Czech Republic.
Photos by Ondrej Nemec
FROM THE PRESS
See The Newest Bust in Freedom Foyer
http://www.speaker.gov/photo/see-newest-bust-freedom-foyer
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons to perform at Capitol unveiling of Vaclav Havel bust
Emily Heil, The Washington Post, November 17, 2014
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2014/11/17/zz-tops-billy-gibbons to-perform-at-capitol-unveiling-of-vaclav-havel-bust/
Unveiling of Havel bust to be streamed alive
Andre Crous, Prague Post, November 18, 2014
www.praguepost.com/142-culture/42711-unveiling of-havel-bust-to-be-streamed-live
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons Plays Capitol Hill Unveiling of Vaclav Havel Bust
Michael McAuliff, The Huffington Post, November 19, 2014
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/19/vaclav-havel billy-gibbon_n_6187198.html
Vaclav Havel Honored by ZZ Top in U.S. Capitol
Bridget Johnson, PJ Media, November 20, 2014
pjmedia.com/tatler/2014/11/20/vaclav-havel honored-by-zz-top-in-u-s-capitol/
Prime Minister Sobotka endorses Havel legacy on US visit
Jan Richter, Czech Radio, November 19, 2014
www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/prime-minister-sobotka endorses-havel-legacy-on-us-visit
Meeting Vaclav Havel
Salil Tripathi, live mint, November 19, 2014
www.livemint.com/Opinion/3mYlHCRQYzuQfbW0mSLg3I/ Meeting-Vaclav-Havel.html
Madeleine Albright on twitter: “Honored to attend unveiling of Vaclav Havel bust @uscapitol. He…
twitter.com/madeleine/status/535129888358162432
Billy Gibbons sings blues, for Czech hero, Havel, on Capitol Hill
Maria Recio, McClatchy Washington Bureau, November 20, 2014
www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/11/20/ 247623_billy-gibbons-sings-blues-for.html?rh=1
On Velvet Revolution’s anniversary, a reinforced commitment to democracy
Editorial Board, Washington Post, November 21, 2014
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/on-velvet-revolutions anniversary-a-reinforced-commitment-to-democracy/2014/11/21/ 5830e5ce-6f54-11e4-8808-afaa1e3a33ef_story.html
Bust of Havel unveiled in U.S. Congress
Czech Press Agency, November 19, 2014
www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/ bust-of-havel-unveiled-in-u-s-congress/1149170
Czech Press Survey
November 21, 2014
www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/ czech-press-survey-november-21/1149707
