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Pavla Kocourková, French lecturer and head of the Romance Languages and Latin Department at the Language Training Institute of UWB, has twenty years of patient work behind her, which began when she was interpreting for the city of Pilsen. "I met Belgian veterans at the Freedom Festival in Pilsen and listened to their memories. I was sorry that almost no one talked about them. They were part of the American army, so they remained in the shadows. I decided to try to change that," explained Kocourková.  This was followed by years of contact with the embassy, interviews with eyewitnesses, preparation of a book of memories, and annual work to make Belgian veterans an integral part of the celebrations of Pilsen's liberation.

The invitation to this year's gala reception at the Belgian Embassy in Prague on the occasion of King's Day on November 13 was not unusual for the linguist, who attends it every year thanks to her activities. This time, however, a surprise awaited her. Ambassador J. E. Jürgen van Meirvenne presented her with a letter of thanks directly from King Philippe of Belgium. „She has consistently devoted herself to Belgian veterans and their families, ensuring that they feel welcomed and at home in Pilsen. It is thanks to her, too, that the King’s visit in May was such a great success. In recognition of her merits, the King has decided to appoint her as a Knight of the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s highest order of chivalry,“ said the Ambassador J. E. Jürgen van Meirvenne.

Belgium thus recognized Kocourková's long-standing work, thanks to which the story of Belgian veterans of World War II and the liberation of western Bohemia returned to public awareness in Czechia and Belgium. King Philippe had already decorated Kocourková in 2017 with the Order of Leopold II, Belgium's third highest award. Now she has received the highest order. "It's a tremendous honor. I was so surprised that, apart from saying thank you and promising that I would continue, of course, I couldn't say anything else," said Pavla Kocourková. This is an extraordinary event in the Czech context.

"In 2022, we initiated the creation of a memorial plaque, which the city of Pilsen donated to Liège, Belgium. Today, the plaque stands at the site of annual commemorative ceremonies and reminds locals that their compatriots played a key role in the liberation of western Bohemia. Even the locals didn't know about it," added. Since the unveiling of the plaque in Liège, the 17th Rifle Battalion has been mentioned in official speeches during the main commemorative ceremony. Last autumn, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Liège, the Queen herself paid tribute to the Belgian liberators, paving the way for King Philippe to be invited on an official visit to the Czech Republic, thanks in part to the work of Pavla Kocourková.