Page 61 - Visit Fayette | 2017 - 2018 Visotors Guide

Praha Hosts Notable Veterans Program Every November

Small community lost nine
men in a year during WWII

The small Fayette County Community of
Praha lost it’s youth at the end of World War II.
The town lost nine service men – out of a
population of less than 100 – over the course of
a year from 1944 to 1945. Those men are
remembered each year in one of the most
historic and moving Veterans Day programs A gun-salute during the Praha Veterans program.
held anywhere.
The memorial service in Praha always takes War II. killed in action in France. Also, there is an
place on the Sunday before Veterans Day, Nov. Praha’s war dead from World War II include empty grave honoring Eddie Sbrusch who was
5 in 2017, on the grounds of St. Mary’s Church Rudolf L. Barta, a machine gunner killed in the captured in the Philippines and was lost at sea
in Praha. invasion of Normandy; Robert V. Bohuslav, when the ship transporting him and other
The Praha Veterans Club held its first who manned a bazooka and was killed in North prisoners of war to Japan was torpedoed by an
Veterans Day program Nov. 11, 1962, an event Africa; Anton Kresta Jr., killed in action on American submarine.
that would grow to be one of the most notable Luzon in the Philippine Islands; Joseph Lev, The All Veterans Day program typically
observances each year in Texas. The activities killed by a sniper on Luzon; Edward J. Marek, includes a mass at 9:30 a.m.; memorial service
occur near Praha’s own little “national cem- killed by machine gun fire on Peleliu Island; at 11; and flyovers by the U.S. Air Force and a
etery,” which was created within the confines of George D. Pavlicek, died in France from flower drop over the cemetery by the Com-
the larger parish graveyard to honor the nine wounds received in action; Adolph E. Rab, a memorative Air Force. Following that at the
Praha men who gave their lives during World cannoneer killed in North Italy when an enemy hall, there is the serving of a Praha-style fried
shell landed near his foxhole; Jerry R. Vaculik, chicken dinner.

Central Texas Rail History Center & Flatonia Rail Park

A Train Load of Treasurers

• Model Trains

• Photos Galore
• Railroad Memorabilia

• Historic Tower No. 3

• SP Caboose No. 4743

Central Texas Rail History Center
Friday & Saturday
10:00 am – 12 pm
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

104 South Main St., Flatonia TX • 713.471.8068 • www.railcrossroadstx.com

Fayette County Visitors Guide 61