Vaclav Havel Funeral Ends a Week of Grief

PRAGUE – World leaders and thousands of citizens gathered today to mourn the passing of Vaclav Havel, bidding farewell to the remarkable playwright and political figure.

Havel, who died just under a week ago on December 18, occupied numerous roles as playwright, poet, essayist, political dissident, and later influential politician himself. In the political sphere, he is most famous for leading the 1989 revolution that led the nation into a democratic system.

The funeral was held in St. Vitus Cathedral, a part of the Prague Castle. Alongside Havel’s wife Dagmar, friends and family, (even Havel’s political rival, Vaclav Klaus) were several notable world leaders and political figures. Among the famous world leaders in attendance were: French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton alongside her husband, former United States President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. They were joined at the cathedral by thousands of Czech citizens who watched the service from outside on large video screens, listening to the eulogy through several loudspeakers.

Albright, who is of Czech heritage, had this to say:

“We will terribly miss him but we will never, ever forget him.”

Church bells rang across the country at noon, and everyone stopped for a moment of respect – Christmas shoppers, retailers, and factories, united together for a moment of mourning.

Cameron’s words sum up the experience perfectly:

“Europe owes Vaclav Havel a profound debt. Havel led the Czech people out of tyranny … and he helped bring freedom and democracy to our entire continent.”

Vaclav Havel’s legacy will hopefully continue to inspire as the man himself did in life.