As in previous years, on August 15, during the Polish Armed Forces Day celebrations in Jelenia Góra, additional plaques bearing the names of battle sites where the Polish army distinguished itself were unveiled. Last year, soil brought from the battlefields of Kamianets-Podilskyi (17th century), Mokra (September 1939), Hel (September 1939), Newark-on-Trent (England, 1940) and Kołobrzeg (March 1945) was placed at the base of the “Freedom Is Measured in Crosses” monument. This year, soil came from Breda and Bautzen.
Marcin Zawiła, the mayor of Jelenia Góra, emphasized the significance of the “Miracle on the Vistula” in 1920, during the Polish–Bolshevik War. It took place just two years after Poland regained independence, while the victory in the Battle of Warsaw and the defeat of the Soviets halted the expansion of communism westward across Europe.
It is especially worth remembering those events today, when unrest in the east is being reported. The ceremony also commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, emphasizing the importance of a sense of peace in the world.
Many residents of Jelenia Góra came to the square. The gathering included commemorative speeches by invited guests. More photos on the website of the Jelenia Góra municipal authorities.
(Jelenia Góra City Hall/ii)