Local Czechs proud of new Wilson statue
A dream by Czechs on both sides of the ocean came to life this week when a monument to former President Woodrow Wilson was restored to its original place in Prague, replacing one torn down by the Nazis in 1941.
“Bringing President Wilson back to Central Europe is historic, and symbolic,” said Arlington Heights attorney George Drost in an email from Prague. “It underscores the ‘rule of law’ and the Western style of democracy that started in 1918 in this part of the world.”
The enormous bronze statue replaces the original sculpted in 1928 by Albin Polasek, who depicted Wilson at the Versailles Peace Conference, arms outstretched and the American flag draped over his shoulders.
It was commissioned to be a tangible sign of the freedom first obtained in 1918; however, in 1941, the Nazis tore it down from its prominent place near Prague’s main train station on the same day the U.S. declared war on Japan.
While the statue was shattered, a model for Wilson’s head and shoulders survived, and after the fall of Communism 20 years ago, it was discovered in a Prague warehouse.
Polasek later headed up the sculpture department for 30 years at the Art Institute of Chicago before retiring to Florida. He died in 1965.
The new monument’s unveiling came after a $1 million fundraising campaign led by members of the American Friends of the Czech Republic, of which Drost is a member. He worked with Robert Doubek, former project director for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, who led the fundraising efforts.
“I was inspired to pursue the Wilson project because of the gratitude and pride that Czech visitors express when they see the Masaryk Memorial in Washington,” Doubek said during the fundraising campaign, speaking about the statue honoring Tomas Masaryk, first president and founder of Czechoslovakia.
“The Wilson Monument will be the counterpart in Prague,” he added, “to symbolize the common democratic values of Czechs and Americans.”
Dedication ceremonies started Tuesday with the opening of a new exhibit at the Czech National Museum commemorating the rebuilding of the monument and exploring Wilson’s role in encouraging Masaryk to achieve independence.
A symposium at the Czernin Palace in Prague examined their partnership further before guests gathered for a gala awards dinner. In attendance were former Czech President Vaclav Havel, former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and the countries’ respective ambassadors.
The formal dedication ceremony took place Wednesday, as well as the Walk of Freedom, a pathway leading up to the 30-foot-tall monument paved with bricks bearing the names of international supporters.
“The celebration here transcends just one country,” Drost added. “It applies to all those countries that have embraced democracy modeled after the United States.”