Miroslav Zikmund handed out the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk

On Oct. 28 every year, the day celebrating the establishment of an independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, the head of state of the Czech Republic recognizes individuals, both Czechs and foreigners, who have made a significant contribution to the country. Past recipients include European heads of state, from Queen Elizabeth II and King Juan Carlos to Jacques Chirac, François Mitterand and Ivan Gašparovič, U.S. politicians such as former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, writers like Karel Čapek and many others.

Miroslav Zikmund got the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1st class, for outstanding contribution to the development of democracy, humanity and human rights). Born Feb. 14, 1919. Writer and traveler. Along with Jiří Hanzelka, he visited more than 80 countries, wrote some 20 books and promoted the former Czechoslovakia and Czech-made Tatra cars in the world. Both travelers condemned the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact troops in August 1968, and this is why they were banned from traveling and publishing. After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, Zikmund made his first journey to Australia, and he also traveled to Siberia and Sri Lanka again. President Václav Havel bestowed a medal of merit on Hanzelka and Zikmund in 1999.

On Oct. 28 every year, the day celebrating the establishment of an independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, the head of state of the Czech Republic recognizes individuals, both Czechs and foreigners, who have made a significant contribution to the country. Past recipients include European heads of state, from Queen Elizabeth II and King Juan Carlos to Jacques Chirac, François Mitterand and Ivan Gašparovič, U.S. politicians such as former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, writers like Karel Čapek and many others.

Miroslav Zikmund got the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1st class, for outstanding contribution to the development of democracy, humanity and human rights). Born Feb. 14, 1919. Writer and traveler. Along with Jiří Hanzelka, he visited more than 80 countries, wrote some 20 books and promoted the former Czechoslovakia and Czech-made Tatra cars in the world. Both travelers condemned the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact troops in August 1968, and this is why they were banned from traveling and publishing. After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, Zikmund made his first journey to Australia, and he also traveled to Siberia and Sri Lanka again. President Václav Havel bestowed a medal of merit on Hanzelka and Zikmund in 1999.