The Polish Army celebrates its holiday on 15 August—the anniversary of the victorious Battle of Warsaw, fought against the Bolsheviks in 1920. This battle is aptly called the “Miracle on the Vistula.” At that time, the Polish armed forces managed to defeat a much larger enemy army. Thanks to this victory, the specter of the loss of independence moved away from the Second Polish Republic.
The celebration of Polish Army Day began in Bolesławiec as early as 14 August. “The 23rd Silesian Artillery Brigade has prepared a number of events intended to promote the army among the residents of Bolesławiec,” says Captain Remigiusz Kwieciński. “This holiday is also an opportunity for different generations of soldiers, the brigade, to meet with former service members, veterans and the local community,” the soldier adds.
On 14 August, a drill display took place in Bolesławiec’s market square. The Brigade’s soldiers, accompanied by the Representative Band of the Silesian Military District, fired a ceremonial volley.
The next item on the program was a march by the soldiers to the amphitheater in Waryński Park, where a concert by the Representative Band of the Silesian Military District began at 6:00 p.m. The band presented a wide range of patriotic pieces, but not only those. The uniformed musicians convinced the audience that soldiers are no strangers to popular music by performing, among other things, their own version of the great hit by Kayah and Goran Bregović—“Prawy do lewego.”
After the military band, the Menuet chamber ensemble, which has existed since 1999, performed on the amphitheater stage. Associated with the Jelenia Góra Philharmonic, the ensemble presented the Bolesławiec audience with a concert of Viennese music. The program included works by the Strauss family and other Austrian composers.
On 15 August, a field Mass was held on the unit’s grounds and celebrated by Rev. Prelate Andrzej Jarosiewicz. After the solemn service, the Brigade commander presented medals and promotions to those who had distinguished themselves. At the Open Barracks Day, invited guests had the opportunity to see Bolesławiec’s soldiers in action. In front of the residents, the 1st Self-Propelled Artillery Squadron improvised the execution of a fire mission. The celebration ended with refreshments and the obligatory soldiers’ pea soup.
(GA report)