Remembering forgotten heroes. That’s what the Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue stands for. It is located at the Stra\u0161nice crematorium in Prague. This is not just a statue. It is a tribute to Czechoslovak scouts. They bravely faced adversity. They were persecuted during both world wars and the communist regime.
Imagine standing here in 2003. It was May 10th. The Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue was unveiled before the Stra\u0161nice crematorium. The artist Vladim\u00edr Pechar created it. He is a painter, graphic artist and illustrator.
Pause for a moment. Reflect on the history of scouting in Czechoslovakia. A. B. Svojs\u00edk expanded it. It became known as Jun\u00e1k. This happened in 1914. The movement taught moral values. These were based on spiritual principles. It gave children healthy self-esteem. They learned about national awareness. The scout oath and laws reinforced these ideas.
Non-democratic regimes opposed scouting. It was first banned in 1940. Then again in 1950. After a brief revival during the Prague Spring, it was banned in 1970.
Why did the communists reject scouting? They called it bourgeois. They claimed it promoted Anglo-Saxon culture. They even called it an agency of imperialism. This was allegedly within the children’s movement.
Many scout groups continued illegally. They faced difficult conditions. Leaders and members risked persecution. Many scouts were victims of political trials. Some were given long prison sentences. Some scouts were tortured or executed.
Scouts often hid their activities. They worked under the guise of other organizations. The Club of Czech Tourists was one example. The free Czech scouting movement also operated in exile.
The Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue honors 749 scouts. They were killed or tortured. They suffered during the world wars and the communist era.
The Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue stood here from 2003 to 2017. It was then removed for renovations. It was stored in the crematorium. Prague scouts worked to restore it. They launched a fundraising campaign with the Jaroslav Foglar Scout Foundation. The Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue was then reinstalled. It now stands behind the main entrance.
The unveiling ceremony was symbolic. It marked the 75th anniversary. This was of an attempted coup. Scouts participated in it. State Security forces crushed the anti-communist revolt. This was in May 1949.
The Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue serves as a reminder. It shows that scouting has faced challenges. Two totalitarian regimes banned and destroyed it. Many scouts died for their country. Many were imprisoned in concentration camps. They suffered in prisons and uranium mines.
Some members of the 34th Ost\u0159\u00ed\u017e Prague troop also suffered. They fought against Nazi and communist oppression. Jakub Sl\u00edpka and others risked their lives. Some scouts continue to help scout groups.
This Skautsk\u00fd pomn\u00edk Statue is more than stone. It represents courage, resilience, and sacrifice. It reminds us of the values that scouting instills. Values like duty, honor and freedom. It honors those who lived by these values. Even in the darkest times.