Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in a Victory in Europe celebration held May 8, 2024, in Hranice, Czech Republic. The units mobilized to the Czech Republic under the command of the Virginia National Guard’s Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. They are taking part in DEFENDER 24, the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe involving more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations.