Two war veterans, one from Russian and American each, met and shook hands on Saturday on the demarcation line that divided their armies at the end of World War Two near Rokycany, the Czech Republic, 60 years after the liberation.
Although the two soldiers did not meet each other sixty years ago, they symbolically shook hands on Saturday and said the word " peace" in their respective languages.
Roy Pickel is an honorary citizen of Rokycany and entered the town in 1945 with the American army. His counterpart today was Pavel Boloday, who advanced as far as Pribram, central Bohemia, with the Red Army 60 years ago.
A number of other veterans from both sides visited the areas they liberated 60 years ago today. US ambassador to the Czech Republic William Cabaniss and US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson took part in the commemoration of the liberation of Rokycany.