In the November issue of "Głos Bolesławca," I read about a significant ceremony in the life of Bolesławiec’s "Red Berets"—at Piłsudski Square, in the barracks, and also about a ceremonial gathering in the "Forum" hall.
It was also a holiday for our city, because after all, the army with the people, and the people with the army... that is how it always used to be. I live close to the barracks and attend the church on Łasicka Street. In the church, during Mass, the occasion was also very solemn and festive that day. Full ceremony, many moving words on the occasion of the holiday of this unit—the Bolesławiec commandos, whose training and bold bearing are our pride.. (Although I also remember an incident when a senior sergeant of these commandos once dispersed an entire pub formerly known as MEKSYK, and neither the Citizens' Militia nor a military patrol could subdue the burly sergeant...)
But let us return to the subject. I was sorry that at the church Mass held for the intention of the "Red Berets," neither at Marshal Piłsudski Square nor at the ceremony in the "Forum" hall did I see a delegation of Bolesławiec veterans or their ceremonial banners. After all, among them there is a small group of soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, headed by colleague Leszek Mykietyński, a genuine wartime soldier of General Sosabowski’s famous parachute brigade, which parachuted near Arnhem. The aforementioned colleague is the president of the community club of this group of veterans.
I intervened with the boards of the Bolesławiec branches of veterans’ organizations (the Union of Combatants, the Association of Former Soldiers of the Home Army, and the Union of War Invalids), expressing my surprise that the presidents of these organizations and their ceremonial banners had not taken part in the ceremonies. How could they have failed to respond to the invitations, which they presumably received? The presidents were astonished... it turned out that they learned about the ceremonies the next day... from me, and none of these organizations had received any invitations. The "Red Berets" have never, in fact, invited Bolesławiec veterans to their ceremonies. True, in previous years, when P. Captain Dziadek was the commander of the "Red Berets," they were invited twice, but this was, so to speak, forced by the presidents.
It is a sad truth. Among so many guests from outside the military at these ceremonies, the veterans’ delegation was absent... The presidents added that they are treated similarly by the air defense regiment stationed in Bolesławiec, which held similar ceremonies a year ago. The air defense regiment has never invited Bolesławiec veterans. Shame on you, commanders of these units. Take an example from Colonel Chwojnicki’s brigade. And, just in case, I am providing the address of the Bolesławiec veterans’ headquarters: 9 Sądowa Street.
P.S. If I have lied, please issue a correction, and I will "eat my words."
Former Home Army soldier PKW (name and address known to the editorial office)