Predslavice
We eat lunch in Volnye, in the building next to this one. The men who organized the World War II reenactments after the Velvet Revolution are in attendance. After lunch, one of them tells me that while the Russians were in power, the Czechs clung to the souvenirs of the Allied liberation -- a soldier's old shirt, an Army badge. He had grown up building airplane models. One thing led to another, and he got into reenacting. (Having never built a model of any sort, I'm not sure exactly how this progression goes.)
After lunch, we head 4 kilometers southeast to Predslavice. which Jack Sebesta of the 328th Division, Company L occupied. A large group had assembled on the town square.
Jack lays a wreath at a World War I memorial at the nearby church, and talks about how the company stayed in the town hall Monday through Friday, but had to roll up their bed rolls on Saturday so that the townspeople could have their dance.
Above: a dance at Vlachovo Brezi
After the ceremony, we return to the square for refreshments -- a platter of cured ham and long, seaweed-green pickles, cut into quarters; a basket full of sweet breads stuffed with cheese and raisins, and a plate of pound cake. Grandpa helps himself to one of each.