The Polish Army Day in the Vilnius Rasos Cemetery

On 15^th August precisely at noon, the commemorative ceremony in honour of the Battle of Warsaw (1920), also known and hailed as the “Miracle at the Vistula”, was held in the Vilnius Rasos Cemetery, nearby the Mausoleum of The Mother and The Heart of Her Son.

In consequence of the Battle of Warsaw, considered as one of the most decisive battles in the world history, the Polish Forces defeated the invading Red Army and pushed it backwards to the Soviet Russia, along with the “export of the red revolution”. Historians agree unanimously that this glorious victory of the Polish Army, commanded by Józef Piłsudski, changed the course of the world history and provided Europe with a unique opportunity to rebuild after the World War I. In 1923 the date of 15^th August was ordered by General Stanisław Szeptycki to mark this extraordinary victory.

The ceremony was participated by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Lithuania, Jarosław Czubiński, alongside the Defense, Military Naval and Air Attaché, Colonel Zbigniew Szlęk. The flower wreaths at the battle memorial were laid in front of the Mausoleum also by the representatives of Poles in Lithuania on behalf of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania, along with the representatives of the local councils, schools and social organizations. The guard of honour was formed by the veterans and the scouts.

“When we think about the Polish Army, we remember and cherish all its victories and worship those killed in the name of fights for the free and independent Poland. Hail to their memory! We look to the future with calmness and boldness, as we know that, God forbid, should the opportunity arise, then the sons and the daughters of the Polish Nation will be ready to defend our Fatherland. Hail them!” – with those words began his speech Jarosław Czubiński, emphasising that we today we have not only desired independence, but we are also guarantor of independence to the other countries, owing to the membership of the NATO.

The military attaché, Colonel Zbigniew Szlęk, gave an exclamation of delight that the Polish soldiers are worshipped and respected, and the Armed Forces of Poland Day has been commemorated not only in Poland, but also beyond its frontiers. He also highlighted that the independence is not given once and for all, that we must take care of it every single day.

Afterwards, the commemoration was crowned with the performance of the solemn Polish patriotic songs – “Rota”, “Pierwsza Brygada” (“The March of the First Brigade”) and the Polish National Anthem, “Mazurek Dąbrowskiego”, sang in unison by the football supporters of “Polonia Vilnius”.

Source: http://kurierwilenski.lt/2013/08/16/%EF%BB%BFswieto-wojska-polskiego-na-wilenskiej-rossie/

Tłumaczenie by Joanna Mirek w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Joanna Mirek within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.