It was unveiled together with the marshal by: member of the Board of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Tadeusz Samborski, chair of the Bolesławiec County Council Karol Stasik, full-time member of the County Board Stanisław Chwojnicki, chair of the Bolesławiec branch of the Siberians Association Maria Niemczuk, president of the Association of Re-emigrants from Bosnia, Their Descendants and Friends Halina Waniak, president of the Bolesławiec Society of Friends of Lviv and the Southeastern Borderlands Barbara Smoleńska and representative of re-emigrants from France Edward Wieczorek.
As we read on the County’s website:
Remembering our past is something that not only allows us to understand ourselves and relationships between people, but is also the history of our roots and the fates that shaped the life stories of successive generations. Remembering the beginnings of Our Common Home is extremely important—for the future as well.
From the perspective of 70 years, it is easy today to speak of the benefits of bringing different cultures together, of inspiring encounters between customs and different traditions, and of combining the best of each. All of this is true, but the beginnings were extremely difficult, and the pain and tragedies woven into the individual stories of displaced Poles were yet another harsh experience for the Polish nation. That is why the plaque emphasizes: “We remember the painful history of the displacements.” This memory is as necessary to us as the wisdom and common sense that had to overcome our ancestors’ fear of the unknown and longing.
Many of them never came to terms with this forced journey in life to another place on Earth, treating their new home as a temporary haven. Others found their place in the new reality, but we are aware that we were deprived of the subtle richness of multigenerational continuity. We must write our history and identity anew and, most importantly, write them TOGETHER. Together, while respecting our differences, roots and traditions; together, for the diverse richness and prosperity of OUR COMMON HOME.
Bolesławiec County/ii