Funeral held for Czech soldier Jiří Schams

Fellow soldiers, the defence minister, the Chief of the General Staff Petr Pavel and others paid their last respects on Thursday to Jiří Schams, the Czech soldier who died last week at the age of 42. Schams’ funeral service was held at the Strašnice crematorium, as Gripen fighter jets and fighter helicopters flew past. In 2008, the Czech soldier survived a suicide attack while serving in Afghanistan but suffered serious injuries and permanent disability. In his long recovery, he became a symbol for many veterans and others; Schams was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Author: Jan Velinger