The evening's guest of honor was US World War II veteran Harlan Lincoln Harner, who served as a radio operator in the US Army during the European liberation campaigns. Mr. Harner, who celebrated his 100th birthday this January, was awarded the Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic, Third Class, in recognition of his service and his contribution to the freedom of our country.

Among those who addressed the evening’s guests were Czech Ambassador Miloslav Stašek, Brigadier General Martin Sikora, Lieutenant Colonel Jan Novotný, Brigadier General Robert S. Crockem Jr. of the Texas National Guard, and Colonel John D. Williams representing the Nebraska National Guard. Alongside reflections on history, speakers also highlighted the importance of the current partnership between the Czech and US armed forces, grounded in shared values and long-term cooperation.

The program also featured a thematic exhibition, US Army in Czechoslovakia 1944–45, prepared in collaboration with the Military History Institute Prague. The exhibition highlights the role of American troops in the liberation of Czechoslovakia.

We sincerely thank all guests and partners for creating a warm and respectful atmosphere that honored the past and celebrated the lasting partnership between the Czech Republic and the United States.

For photos from the reception, please click on the link at: https://adobe.ly/4dYGQVL. Photo credit for all photos: Michal Danis @photodanis.cz

Harlan Lincoln Harner’s Brief Biography:

Harlan Lincoln “Linc” Harner was born on January 14, 1925, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  Mr. Harner’s middle name, Lincoln, holds a unique significance. It is not only the middle name of his father but also the maiden name of his mother, who was a direct descendant of President Abraham Lincoln’s great-great-grandfather, Mordecai Lincoln.

After losing his father at the age of three, Linc attended Girard College in Philadelphia, a boarding school for fatherless boys. There, he received a fully funded education, which he often credited for shaping his path in life.

In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a radio operator with the 987th Field Artillery Battalion. As a member of the invasion forces, he took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Paris and Luxembourg, the crossing of the Rhine, and the liberation of Czechoslovakia in May 1945. His unit reached the city of Pilsen and went on to operate in the areas around Hoštice, Horažďovice and Stříbro, where they were tasked with guarding prisoners and maintaining security.

After the war, he studied journalism at Rutgers University and later worked as a journalist and an instructor during the Korean War. In 1973, he took on a position in communications with a trade association based in Alexandria, Virginia, where he worked until his retirement in 1988.

In January 2025, he celebrated his 100th birthday as a respected veteran and witness to some of the most significant events of 20th-century European history.