Soviet planes roared above us and our pioneer leader cried black tears
Jiří Krista was born on December 20, 1957 in Broumov into a family of a bricklayer and a cashier, his sister was seven years younger. His dad was of German nationality and came from the Czech corner in Polish territory, from where he had to flee as a seven-year-old boy after World War II. In 1968, Jiří Krista visited his aunt in Mannheim with his parents. In August 1968, he was woken up at the pioneer camp by the roar of Soviet planes. After elementary school, he trained to be a bricklayer in Broumov. In 1976, he enlisted in Dobřany near Pilsen, where he completed compulsory military service. He got married in 1981. In November 1989, he participated in protests in Náchod and in Police nad Metují. With a few people, he then founded the Civic Forum in Bezděkov. He contributed to the restoration of the local school and kindergarten, the independence of the village and the repair of the church. He played hockey, worked as a hockey coach and an administrator of Sokol. He organized hikes around the area. He lived his whole life in Bezděkov nad Metují, where he still lived in 2022.