Petr Pavel Receives a Tomahawk from US Military During Visit to Nebraska Base

Czech President Petr Pavel, during his visit to the US state of Nebraska, stopped by a National Guard base in Lincoln, where soldiers presented him with a tomahawk — a Native American axe symbolizing both war and peace.

The Guard's commanding officer, named Strong, explained as he handed over the gift: "This tomahawk carries a double meaning — war and peace. While we always prepare for war, it is peace that we hope for." Pavel joked in response that such a gift could use some "filling" to make peace truly joyful. In return, the Czech president gave his host a crystal beer mug.

A Look at the Base's Hardware

During the visit, Pavel held talks with the base's leadership, after which the military showed him the aircraft stationed there. The president personally climbed into the cockpits of the UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopters.

Decades of Military Cooperation

The Czech armed forces have been cooperating with the National Guards of Nebraska and Texas since 1993. The partnership focuses on exchanging expertise and holding joint exercises. Notably, the American side has mainly shared aviation know-how with Czech forces — the Nebraska Guard, for instance, has trained Czech pilots in aerial refueling.

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Source: novinky.cz