„Piłsudski calls to memory” concert

On a Friday night Polonia television broadcast the second charity concert “Piłsudski calls to memory”. The money collected during the concert will be used to rebuild the Memory Park in Zalavas, the village in which Marshal Józef Piłsudski was born.

In the concert participated such stars of the Vilnius musical scene as Katarzyna Niemyćko, Ewelina Saszenko, bands: “Wileńszczyzna”, “Zgoda”, “Mejszagolanki”, “Kapela Wileńska” an opera singer Marek Nerkowski, and Zdzisław Palewicz junior.

“We will present the Polish culture for our compatriots around the world”— said the organiser and the host of the concert, Edward Trusewicz, who is the Secretary of the Association of Poles in Lithuania and the new Under-secretary of Culture in Lithuania.

The money collected during the concert will be used for creating a Memory Park in Zalavas. The initial project, which was realised before the war, was created by an architect Romuald Gutt. He called the works in Zalavas “the most beautiful task of his life.”

Sources note that Gutt said about his project: “ I did not want to create a cemetery there, nor a symbolic statue. Zalavas is just a place from which He grew. Here, in Zalavas, I wanted to create a place of contemplation, since the lack of such places is very noticeable, I wanted to create a place, where everyone could focus, even if for 15 minutes, think and look into oneself.”

The contemporary creators have the same goal, and they aim at rebuilding the Memory Park, destroyed by the war and the Soviet authorities. “A National Memory Alley, which is currently constructed, will be an important element of the Park. There will be oaks, symbolising people and events important for the Polish nation, for the Vilnius region. It will also be a place of thought and meditation. Tourists, pilgrims, our compatriots come here already. In the future, patriotic elements will be added, and the main focus will be on Józef Piłsudski, of course.”— said Edward Trusewicz.

The realisation of the project is supposed to be finished for the 150th anniversary of the Marshal’s birthday, which is in 5 years. “So far, the Polish authorities haven’t participated in the costs of the project, it is a social initiative. We believe that it will change, but one way or another we will finish the task”— said Edward Trusewicz.

The first concert was shown two years ago. Twenty thousand euro was collected.

The beginning of the second concert was at 18:55, just after Teleexpres, in Polonia Television.

Source: http://www.wilnoteka.lt/pl/artykul/koncert-quotpilsudski-pamiecia-przyzywa

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