The Consulate General of Poland in New York held a ceremony Thursday to mark Poland’s National Independence Day. Members of the Polish diaspora, known as Polonia, who have rendered special service received state decorations and statuettes from the Outstanding Pole (Wybitny Polak) competition.
– It’s pouring rain, and the hall is full, the energy is wonderful. So I think we must be doing something right – Consul General Mateusz Sakowicz told PAP.
He recalled that Poland was absent from the map of the world for 123 years.
– We repeat the words of St. John Paul II that freedom is both a gift and a task. It is our shared task – he stressed.
The oldest guest at the ceremony was 103-year-old Fryderyk Dammont, a Kraków-born Siberian deportee, Soviet gulag prisoner and soldier in Gen. Anders’ army.
– I’m as old as all these people here put together – he joked. He admitted that he has felt lonely since his wife’s death. – It’s a beautiful holiday, one of the greatest. When I see so many people, my heart rejoices – he added.
Among those decorated was Rev. Stefan Andrzej Las, who received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by decision of President Andrzej Duda. President Karol Nawrocki, in turn, awarded the Gold Cross of Merit to Agnieszka Kinga Pogorzelska.
The Medal for Long Marital Life went to Aniela and Stanisław Sobczyk and Romualda and Adam Szychowski.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk granted the Honorary Badge for Merit to Polonia and Poles Abroad to Artur Dybanowski, Agnieszka Granatowska, Małgorzata Kłos and Zbigniew Wiktor Solarz.
Solarz, vice president of the Polish & Slavic Center, has run a print shop for 35 years. He told PAP that the distinction means a lot to him, but that it is not the reason for his work for Polonia. – Community work complements everything – he stressed.
Grzegorz Fryc, chairman of the selection committee of the Outstanding Pole competition, noted that the New York edition, held for the 16th time, is the oldest in the world. More than 250 people have received statuettes so far, including more than 50 in New York.
This year’s honorees are cardiologist Dr. Adam Budzikowski; businessman Piotr Praszkowicz, president of the Pulaski Association of Business and Professional Men; Dominik Grzyb, founder of the Big Band Polonia and the Polonia Chorus; and Rev. Grzegorz Markulak, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish in Greenpoint, which is marking its 130th anniversary.
In the Young Pole category, the award went to 10-year-old musician Andrew Michoń, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, among other venues. He is the youngest laureate in the competition’s history.
From New York, Andrzej Dobrowolski (PAP)
Source: Nowy Dziennik
