The honorees received medals and letters of congratulations from President Bronisław Komorowski, presented by Bolesławiec Municipality Head Andrzej Dutkowski and Chairman of the Bolesławiec Municipal Council Bogusław Uziej. The letters contained wishes for good health and family happiness.
The ceremony took place during the fifth session of the Bolesławiec Municipal Council, held on July 1. The honorees were accompanied by their closest family members, who came in large numbers to share these moving moments with them. There was no shortage of emotion. As Barbara Sitna, an employee of the Bolesławiec Municipal Office, presented the couples’ biographies, tears appeared. The ceremony was accompanied by slideshows of our honorees’ wedding photographs.
Teresa and Władysław Niemczuk are celebrating their Diamond Anniversary. Mrs. Teresa was born in 1935 in Pont-a-Moussou, France. Mr. Władysław was born in 1934 in the Eastern Borderlands. The couple met at Mr. Władysław’s uncle’s home on 22 Lipca Street (now Lubańska Street) in Bolesławiec. Before their wedding, which took place in 1954, the Niemczuks had known each other for a year and a half. On September 16, 1954, they married in a civil ceremony at the Bolesławiec Civil Registry Office and settled in Kraśnik Górny. The Niemczuks have two children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Katarzyna and Antoni Stempak are celebrating their Golden Anniversary. Mrs. Katarzyna was born in 1945 in Kaniża, while Mr. Antoni was born in 1942 in Srdziewice. Their families came to Poland in 1946, settling near each other: Katarzyna’s family in Parzyce and Antoni’s in Brzeźnik. The future spouses met at a Christmas tree party in Parzyce in 1958, and that is how their love began—an enduring feeling that has lasted uninterrupted for more than 50 years. After six years of courtship, they entered into a civil marriage on December 29, 1964, followed by a church wedding on January 17, 1965. Their first son, Jan, was born in 1965; their daughter Ewa in 1969; their daughter Barbara in 1972; and their youngest son Rafał in 1982. The honorees have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Krzysztofa and Szczepan Łeśko have also shared 50 years of marriage. Mrs. Krzysztofa was born in 1946 in Kadcza, near Nowy Sącz, and in 1947 her family moved to Lower Silesia, settling in Nowa, initially at number 7 and later at number 10, where Mrs. Krzysztofa still lives today. Mr. Szczepan was born in 1942 in Czachary in the Eastern Borderlands. Mr. Szczepan’s family, like most of our compatriots, came to Poland shortly after World War II and settled in Żeliszów. After living there for a year, they moved to Nowa, house number 27. Less than a year later, everyone left for Namysłów for 10 years. However, their longing for the village of Nowa did not fade, and in 1956 the family returned there, to house number 9. As can be seen, house number 10, where Krzysztofa lived, and house number 9, Szczepan’s home, stood next to each other, making it inevitable that 14-year-old Szczepan and 10-year-old Krzysia would meet. Their friendship quickly blossomed into love, and on March 27, 1965, they married at the Bolesławiec Civil Registry Office. The honorees have four children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The letters received from the President of the Republic of Poland emphasized the special importance, among Polish distinctions, of medals awarded for long marital life. These medals are a symbolic expression of the recognition that the country’s authorities have for family life and of the importance they attach to the well-being of every family. The President wrote that the medals were being awarded to two people who had taken their marriage vows years ago, whose shared family life was a source of pride and joy for their loved ones, as well as an example and model of fidelity. In this way, recognition was given to their daily effort in overcoming adversity, mutual support and dedication to building and strengthening the family, which determines the nation’s development and future.
The applications for the distinctions that had recently been submitted to the Municipality Head followed the official administrative procedure: the required documentation was prepared and forwarded to the Lower Silesian Voivode, who, after reviewing the applications, sent them to the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, where decisions to award the medals were issued.