Visit from the US

Katherine Tucker and Elizabeth Kennard with their partners Mark and Patrick arrived from the US to look for place, where their fathers stayed in 1945 when they were liberating Europe. They stayed from May to September in castle in Dolní Lukavice. They asked me to meet them and show them our village, castle and some places of interest.

            Lt. Frank Kennard (1922-2014) joined the Army in 1943. This educated man (studied Yale University) was sent to England where he was trained for the day „D“. On 6th June 1944 he landed on Omana Beach and continued up to the cliffs to Pointe du Hoc, where was shot and battle with German soldiers. Frank´s brother William (1919-2013) was a pilot in Piper cub. The Piper cub was used to deliver mail, among got her things, to the Army. „My uncle William was a Captain in the army and he had been sent to Germany just in spring 1945. By the time he arrived by ship, the fighting was over. But he knew he would have to go fight Japan and might die there so he found a way to fly to visit his brother (my father) who he had not seen since 1943. “Said his niece Katherine Tucker.

            We welcomed them together with the mayor of Dolní Lukavice – Vítězslav Opálko. We were very happy to meet them and we appreciate their interest in our small village. Mayor informed them about the population of Dolní Lukavice. We showed them church, schoo lwith Hallloween decorations, war memorial and also cemetery where John Shobey (1919-2013) soldier of Rangers is buried. They visited Jewish cemetery as well. The final part of their visit was a short visit of castle in Dolní Lukavice. Viktoria Veverková-Duphenieux welcomed them and spoke briefly about her ancestors. She showed them castleroom on the first floor and castle chapel. They took some photos, walked in castle park. We hope they enjoyed the stay and we hope to see them again in future! Thank you !!!

Eva Horová