This year's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism was an impressive event. Its smooth running was above all due to the efforts of the garrison command, headed by Col. Stanisław CHWOJNICKI, and the city's local authorities, led by Mayor Józef KRÓL.
The celebrations began on 3 May at the garrison church of Sts Cyril and Methodius. The parish priest and chaplain to Bolesławiec's soldiers, Rev. Capt. Wojciech MROSZCZAK, celebrated Mass. Representatives of all veterans' organizations and soldiers currently serving in the armed forces prayed together for the Homeland. The city was gripped by the celebrations only on 9 May. The choice of this date coincided with the presence in the garrison of a group of several dozen former generals and artillery officers. The vast majority of them took pride in having fought the Hitlerite invader in regular units of the Polish Army, both in the East and in the West. Also present were those who had joined the Polish Army in the first postwar years and devoted their entire adult lives to the service of the "God of War." Many of them played a significant role in the changes taking place in artillery units. Now, from the perspective of time, as they enjoy the autumn of their lives, they are taking stock in their own way of the years spent in uniform. They are happy to share their experiences.
These officers took part, among other things, in a ceremonial muster of personnel, a meeting with active-duty officers of the 1st Missile Regiment (also attended by representatives of the City Government, including Mayor Józef Król, and Bolesławiec commune head Kazimierz Gawron), a roll call for the fallen in front of the monument to the 2nd Polish Army, a meeting with the city authorities, and a concert in the "Forum" cinema hall. Among the guests were many officers who had once served in Bolesławiec's operational-tactical missile unit. These included, for example, Brig. Gen. Antoni SKIBIŃSKI and Colonels Walenty ROMANOWSKI, Janusz ŁUCZYK, Leon MOSZCZYŃSKI, Zdzisław GRZEJSZCZAK and Zygmunt DEMIDOWSKI—the current head of the Missile and Artillery Forces of the Silesian Military District. Among those who had permanently made our city their home, we saw, among others, retired Lieutenant Colonels Jerzy PŁOCIENNIK, Włodzimierz MARKOWSKI and Piotr PIOTROWICZ. Invited non-commissioned officers also watched the young ranks of the missile unit. Let us mention, for example, Senior Sergeants Julian JERMAKOWICZ, who spent part of his life in Soviet gulags, and Florian PITALI, a prewar career NCO and perhaps the oldest former missile soldier. It is impossible here to omit the sizable group of Bolesławiec veterans headed by Lt. Col. (ret.) Włodzimierz KOWALSKI, president of the Association of Veterans of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners. The standards of all veterans' organizations in our city and commune always honor ceremonies in the barracks with their presence.
The guests' stay in the ancient Piast stronghold was made more attractive by a tour of the achievements and production process of one of Europe's largest medical-equipment factories, the famous Bolesławiec "Polfa." The veterans were surprised by the hospitality of the workforce and its director, Stanisław KOZŁOWSKI. They also admired the city's monuments. Its history was presented in an engaging way by Zygmunt BRUSILO, president of the Bolesławiec Enthusiasts' Society, while together with local residents they applauded a performance by the Bolesławiec Military Band. The military drill display was impressive. The true showcase of vocal and instrumental skill, worthy of this momentous anniversary, was the concert performed by the best amateur ensembles in our city.
After speeches by Mayor Józef Król and Brig. Gen. Czesław BOROWSKI, head of the Missile and Artillery Forces of the General Staff of the Polish Army, the stage of the "Forum" cinema-theatre was taken over by wonderful music and dance. Applause came naturally when the following groups appeared on stage: the Bolesławiec Song and Dance Ensemble, Mały Bolesławiec and the mandolinists from the Youth Cultural Centre, students and graduates of the Music School, and the Military Band. Let us mention just a few of the soloists: Aleksandra SOZAŃSKA-KUT, Mariusz SZKLEJEWSKl, Adam WAŁOWSKI, Murek ROJEK, Krzysztof GRABIEC, Krzysztof MISUN, Ryszard KUCHARCZAK ... And one more name—Ms ELŻBIETA TOR, the program's director. In the unanimous opinion of the performers, the success of the artists on stage was her achievement. Congratulations!
When the applause after the final "Victory Day" had barely died down, the former garrison commander from the 1960s, Col. Walenty ROMANOWSKI (ret.), unexpectedly walked onto the stage. This frontline soldier thanked the performers, organizers and city authorities in a breaking voice and with undisguised emotion for such a wonderful welcome after all these years and for properly commemorating the momentous anniversary. And he presented 10-year-old Paulinka ILALACZKIEWICZ from "Mały Bolesławiec" with a rose and lifted her onto his shoulders!