Prague’s main railway station could be named after Sir Nicholas Winton, also known as the “British Schindler”, who died last week at the age of 106, the Jewish Chronicle reported on Wednesday.
Winton saved the lives of 669 Jewish Czech children from the Nazis during World War II and was responsible for rescuing the children before they were sent to concentration camps.
The idea of renaming the station came from Prague mayoral candidate Jan Cizinsky who presented it to the Czech government, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
"First we need to talk to the family and to discuss the issue with them. Their decision is the main one," he said.
The station is currently called President Wilson’s station after former U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, and was previously called Franz Joseph station after the emperor of Austria.
Sir Nicholas was knighted in 2003, and in October last year he received the Order of the White Lion– the highest Czech state honor – from the country’s president in a ceremony at Prague Castle.
In 1988, the BBC surprised him during the filming of a special documentary - where he met several of the children he had saved.
Following Winton’s death, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu personally eulogized him, saying, "The Jewish people and the State of Israel owe an eternal debt to Nicholas Winton who singlehandedly saved hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis."
"In a world plagued by evil and indifference, Winton dedicated himself to saving the innocent and the defenseless. His exceptional moral leadership serves as an example to all humanity."
Netanyahu concluded, saying, "Nicholas Winton will forever be remembered by us with the deepest admiration and gratitude. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
President Reuven Rivlin also praised Winton and said, "Just as the Holocaust will forever remain etched in the Jewish consciousness, so too the names of those who risked their own lives to save Jews, and especially Jewish children will remain in our memory as heroes of those darkest of times."
"Sir Nicholas Winton was a man who valued human life above all else, and there are those who are alive today as a testament to his dedication and sacrifice. May his memory be blessed."