The President of Bolesławiec, engineer JÓZEF KRÓL, receives a considerable amount of correspondence, including correspondence from abroad. Recently, letters arrived from Russia, which will surely not go unanswered.
Let us quote excerpts from them.
"A group of children from the ancient city of RIAZAN is writing to you. Our city has longstanding historical ties with Poland; we also have museums of Polish-Russian Friendship.
We are members of a historical and local-studies club and, at the request of relatives, have for some time been searching for the graves of our compatriots—soldiers who fell in Poland during World War II. We learned that one of them, Vasyl PUNDIKOV, son of Piotr, a Hero of the Soviet Union, was buried in the military memorial cemetery in Bolesławiec. He was an ordinary boy from a small village called "POLAKI-MAIDAN," founded near Riazan by Poles in 1612. It is possible that Polish blood flowed in his veins. As a very young soldier, he fell on the field of glory nine days before the end of the war, fighting for the freedom and independence of Russia and Poland.
(...) The 50th anniversary of victory in World War II is approaching. The relatives of the fallen hero and our group would like to come to Bolesławiec, visit the cemetery and pay tribute to our compatriot by laying a bouquet of flowers on his grave. We would also like to see your beautiful city, about which we already know a great deal, and learn about Poland and the nation that gave the world great, outstanding individuals: Copernicus, Mickiewicz, Chopin, Moniuszko, Matejko and many others.
(...) We would be grateful if you could pass the letter on to an institution or people who could help organize our stay in your city. With expressions of sympathy and respect".
Another letter from Riazan was signed by S. A. EJDMAN, the city's deputy mayor:
"The 50th anniversary of the end of World War II is approaching. The nations of our countries suffered the heaviest losses in it. Remembering this is our moral duty—glory to our compatriots who fell "For Your Freedom and Ours."
In the next paragraph, the mayor of Riazan writes about the activities of a youth group that searched for the place where its compatriot died a heroic death, and continues:
"W. PUNDIKOV'S relatives and the young people wish to visit Bolesławiec (...) I ask for help in determining the arrangements and program for a possible visit".
Another letter from Moscow:
"Mr. President, as a World War II veteran and a participant in the liberation of Bolesławiec from German occupation—I was in a hospital in the city center, being treated for wounds sustained in combat.
Many years have passed since then (...). Despite my advanced age, I have not lost hope of seeing with my own eyes the changes for which so much blood was shed during the war years. In connection with the worldwide observances of the 50th anniversary of victory in 1995, I would like to visit your country, speak with people about circumstances befitting the solemn occasion, and visit museums and the cemetery.
I am a research worker, a geologist, and the author of many scientific books. I propose coming in April in two cars (four people). If you consider such a visit justified, I would be grateful for an invitation."
Yevgeny Ivanovich Selivanov
History is bowing to us; it always constitutes a part of human fate—or, put differently, human biographies make up the record of historical facts. I did not know about the origins of the Polish village near Riazan or about the resident of Moscow who fought for Bolesławiec. It is worth enriching our shared knowledge—with truth in mind—with new facts. We have an excellent opportunity to do so by inviting guests from the East to the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II and our shared victory over Hitler's Third Reich.