In this special atmosphere, on 22 December this year, the 23rd Artillery Regiment held a Christmas Eve gathering for soldiers, civilian army employees and invited representatives of institutions in the Bolesławiec garrison.
The participants were introduced to the festive atmosphere by a carol concert performed by the “Mały Bolesławiec” Song and Dance Ensemble. The young soloists, together with the soldiers and invited guests, sang the best-known Polish carols, highlighting the festive character of the Christmas Eve gathering.
The Christmas Eve gathering was opened with wishes for peace, joy and family warmth during the upcoming Christmas holiday by the commander of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Colonel Paweł Świtalski, who also expressed his thanks for the conscientious performance of official tasks and duties during the past year.
The gathering was attended by representatives of garrison institutions invited by the commander, the authorities of the city and county, priests, and members of the “Commando” Association cooperating with the Regiment. Colonel Świtalski conveyed his thanks to them for their successful cooperation.
Words of recognition and warm wishes to the Bolesławiec artillerymen were offered by the city’s mayor, Piotr Roman, representing the Bolesławiec county head, Stanisław Chwojnicki, and the vice-president of the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special “Commando” Company, retired senior warrant officer Bogdan Fiałkowski. After the Regiment’s chaplain, Second Lieutenant Father Paweł Antkiewicz, read a passage from Scripture and the parish priest of the Bolesławiec Basilica of the Virgin Mary, Monsignor Dr Andrzej Jarosiewicz, blessed the Christmas Eve dishes, the guests and soldiers shared the Christmas wafer and exchanged Christmas and New Year wishes.
Capt. Remigiusz Kwieciński/ii