At the end of July this year, the funeral of Michał Wojdyła, president of the Bolesławiec Society of Friends of Lviv and the Southeastern Borderlands, took place. On September 7, the organization held its reporting and election meeting, during which Barbara Smoleńska was elected as the Society’s new head by an almost unanimous vote. She is a teacher at the Henryk Sucharski Comprehensive and Vocational Schools Complex in Bolesławiec and coordinator of the “Save Your Great-Grandfather’s Grave from Oblivion” campaign, which we have written about in our pages many times.
“I have been a member of the Society for two years,” Barbara Smoleńska said in an interview with “ii.” “When I started running the ‘Save Your Great-Grandfather’s Grave from Oblivion’ campaign, I thought that young people alone were not enough. That people from the Borderlands should also become involved in these activities. There must be a connection between generations, so that one generation can learn from the other. So that young people can preserve the memory of their ancestors by staying in contact with older people from the Borderlands.”
Among those who persuaded B. Smoleńska to become president of the Society was the deputy mayor himself, Kornel Filipowicz. What is more, together with the organization’s future head, he took part in the ceremony unveiling the Adam Mickiewicz monument in Zbarazh. “Cooperation with the City of Bolesławiec is essential; only in this way can we create a broad program for disseminating knowledge about the Borderlands and helping those who remained there,” the president emphasizes.
“The fact that I was elected almost unanimously was very important to me,” she added. “I am not the combative type, and I do not want to undermine anyone. I like what I do, and I like cooperation. This year I happen to have more time, so I can devote myself to this task.”
Plans? “I would like to expand the Society’s activities. I would like young people to become its members as well,” says the newly appointed president. Students of ZSOiZ will certainly be among them. “Mr. Wojdyła’s funeral took place during the school holidays. I wanted a flag-bearing delegation from our school to take part in the ceremony. I called my students, and the answer came immediately: of course, we will be there,” Barbara Smoleńska recalls with emotion.
The organization’s head also wants school chapters of the Society to be established and competitions to be organized. She plans to hold a collection for Poles in the East, as well as cooperate with the Bolesławiec Cavalry Association of the 6th Kaniow Uhlan Regiment, the Association of Siberian Exiles and veterans. “I want to bring these communities together,” she adds.
We will keep you informed about events connected with the Society. We will write about this year’s edition of the “Save Your Great-Grandfather’s Grave from Oblivion” campaign soon.