The Saturday morning of 25 September 1993 would remain for a long time in the memory of the participants of this unusual ceremony. The most popular “Red Berets” unit in our town was honored with the right to continue the traditions of the “Commando” Company. On 28 August 1942, General Sikorski signed an order instructing the formation of the “Commando” Company. It was assigned to the 10-th Inter Allied Commando as the 6-th Troop. It consisted of 82 soldiers and officers. All of them were trained at the famous British commando training center in Achnaccarry. On 13 December 1943, it entered combat in the Neapolitan Apennines; later, its actions included the defense of Pescopennataro and fighting along the lower course of the Garigliano River. After being withdrawn from the front and replenishing its losses, the company came under the command of General Anders, commander of the II Corps of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, in April 1944. At Monte Cassino, it paid a heavy price in blood. By 18 July, the company had lost almost 80 percent of its personnel. Withdrawn from the front once again and replenished, it was renamed the 2nd Motorized Commando Battalion. The exceptional bravery and sacrifice of the Polish commandos were recognized by awarding the soldiers, among other distinctions, one Gold Cross and nineteen Silver Orders of “Virtuti Militari”. On 25 September, fifty former soldiers of the 1st Independent “Commando” Company and the 2nd Commando Battalion arrived for the ceremony transferring the traditions. They lived in Poland, Great Britain, the USA, Canada and West Germany. Many former soldiers of the 62nd Company reported for duty, including both those currently serving in the Polish Army and retirees. A considerable group consisted of scouts who worked with the 62nd Company on a daily basis, as well as young people from Bolesławiec schools. Together with their superiors from the Command of the Silesian Military District, the Garrison and representatives of the city’s local authorities, the company’s personnel first attended a holy mass celebrated by the Dean of the Silesian Military District, Rev. Maj. Waldemar Irek. Also present were priests close to the soldiers’ hearts: Wojciech Mroszczak, recently appointed a captain in the Polish Army, and Monsignor Władysław Rączka. The main part of the ceremony took place in Marshal Józef Piłsudski Square. Among those seated on the honor stand were: Head of the Educational Department of the Silesian Military District, Col. Roman Dąbrowski; Head of the Reconnaissance Department, Col. Krzysztof Kajdas; Garrison Commander, Col. Stanisław Chwojnicki; representative of the Minister of National Defense, Maj. Tadeusz Krząstek; Honorary President of the 1st Independent Commando Company, retired Lt. Col. Stefan Zalewski; President of the Polish Commando Association, retired Capt. Andrzej Groelle; Deputy Head of the Halifax Section in England, Stanisław Wawrzyńczak; and Mayor Józef Król. After the ceremonial speeches, the decision of the Minister of National Defense on the adoption of the traditions was read out, followed by the presentation of the standard brought from England. Among the numerous mementos presented to the Bolesławiec company and handed to its commander, Maj. Ryszard Marciniec, was a valuable Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari belonging to one of the soldiers. The ceremony was enhanced by a performance by the “Bolesławiec” song and dance ensemble, a vocal performance by Agnieszka Kubicz, and a morning drill display by the military band, with Senior Warrant Officer Jan Chojniacki serving as drum major. The company’s soldiers, for their part, demonstrated some of their skills during an impressive landing by a special unit from a helicopter onto the roof of the “Forum” Cinema-Theatre, followed by a descent using ropes onto the square and hand-to-hand combat exercises. The karate demonstrations and parachute jumps made a strong impression on the spectators. Senior Warrant Officer Adam Swiąder, Reserve Warrant Officer Marek Sobczyk and Senior Sergeant Ryszard Rzońca landed precisely in front of the stand. After the ceremony, the soldiers marched behind the band, the honor company and the color guards through the city streets to their quarters. Another solemn ceremony took place there. A monument was unveiled in honor of Polish commandos who fell during the Italian campaign in the years of the Second World War. Wreaths and flowers were laid. The organization of this ceremony was made possible thanks to the kindness of Col. Mieczysław Rosiński, as well as numerous sponsors and people of goodwill who wished to remain anonymous. Without their support, it would be difficult to imagine completing such a magnificent undertaking—a remarkable lesson in patriotism that made it possible to learn another chapter in the history of Polish arms.