It is now 50 years since, in the Recovered Territories, after years of captivity, branches of the Polish Red Cross began to form alongside the State Repatriation Offices.
Times were very difficult, and there was much work to be done in devastated Poland. It was the Red Cross that took on the greatest share of the responsibilities. Transports carrying people from all over the world began arriving in our lands, the former Bolesławiec County. These were difficult beginnings, when people had to be provided with medical care, medicines, food and clothing. In addition, there was a great deal of work involving lists of people who had gone missing in the turmoil of war. The Red Cross emblem became a symbol under which everyone was to receive the necessary help.
The Polish Red Cross had to change its activities as conditions of peace changed. The scope of our work is very broad, and we always serve our fellow human beings. The volunteers of the Polish Red Cross took this effort upon themselves. It is impossible to name them all, but the late Mr Waldemar Grabowski, Mr Jan Pietrzak and Mr Witold Jerominow have remained permanently in our memory. To this day, however, we benefit from the experience and assistance of former and current activists of our Association: Mr Lucjan Opaczyński, Mr Marian Pilarczyk, Mr Antoni Szymonik, Mr Janusz Rupp, Mr Stanisław Kozowski, Mr Stanisław Jędruszek, Mr Jan Czajkowski, Ms Helena Gruzla and Mr Andrzej Kosterenka, whose service to people has become part of the history of the Polish Red Cross in the Bolesławiec area. Nor can we overlook the army of people of goodwill—Honorary Blood Donors, who help save lives with their blood. Let us remember that this is the only entirely selfless act of one person for another. The list of donors who have given more than 30 litres for medical treatment is long. We thank them very much and wish them, above all, good health. The Polish Red Cross also means PCK emergency nurses, who care every day for elderly, sick and lonely people. The Polish Red Cross means dedicated carers—teachers, as well as children and young people belonging to school PCK clubs. They have worked with them for more than 30 years: Ms Elżbieta Szczerbień, Ms Janina Łukasiewicz and Ms Bronisława Gołuńska. The processes of democratisation are re-evaluating and changing both social structures and people’s views and attitudes, including the motivations behind their involvement. Although we are, and wish to remain, a humanitarian and politically neutral association, the changing life of our country nevertheless has a significant impact on the working conditions and state of the Polish Red Cross.
It is thanks to wonderful people with generous hearts, and to institutions, workplaces and offices, that we can carry out our statutory activities.
To mark the 50th anniversary, a ceremony will be held at the Palace of Weddings in Bolesławiec, but more about that in the next issue of Głos Bolesławca.