The ceremonies opened with the patriotic concert “In Tribute to the Cursed Soldiers,” prepared by students from the uniformed class of the Zespół Szkół Ekonomiczno-Technicznych in Rakowice Wielkie. Soldiers and students from uniformed classes at Lower Silesian schools gathered at the Bolesławiec Marian Basilica had the opportunity to watch a presentation about the steadfast heroes of the post-war independence underground and listen to patriotic musical arrangements performed by young artists. The poetry and music program was preceded by the reading of a letter from the President of the Republic of Poland addressed to participants in the commemorations honoring the Cursed Soldiers.
The next item on the program was a sports and defense exercise held on the grounds of the 23rd Artillery Regiment. As part of it, students from uniformed classes practiced drill under the supervision of military instructors and learned about the history of firearms and Polish military decorations. At the same time, a shooting tournament organized by the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Commando Company was held.
The highlight of the exercises was the “For the Cursed Soldiers 1963” run, organized for the second time on the grounds of the 23rd Artillery Regiment and, alongside the shooting tournament, held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. Nearly 700 competitors lined up at the opening assembly: soldiers representing units of the 11th LDKPanc., American soldiers from the 588th Engineer Battalion stationed in Bolesławiec, and students from 12 uniformed classes. Over the symbolic distance of 1,963 meters—the year of the execution of Józef Franczak, the last member of the resistance movement—they wished to pay tribute to the heroes.
The Remembrance Day commemorations for the Cursed Soldiers concluded with a ceremonial roll call, at which Polish and American soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with students from uniformed classes and rifle associations. The importance of the roll call was underscored by the presence of the President’s representative, Maciej Czulicki of the National Security Bureau, representing the General Commander of the Branches of the Armed Forces, Col. Zenon Wiśniewski, as well as Lower Silesian Voivodeship Marshal Cezary Przybylski and Bolesławiec County head Karol Stasik. The hosts of the event were the commander of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, Col. Paweł Świtalski, and the vice-president of the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Commando Company, senior warrant officer reserve Bogdan Fiałkowski.
After the Polish and American national flags were raised and the national anthems played, a letter from Minister of National Defence Antoni Macierewicz was read on the occasion of Remembrance Day for the Cursed Soldiers. The “For the Cursed Soldiers 1963” run and shooting tournament were then summarized. The winners received cups, medals and prizes funded by the “Commando” Association, as well as material prizes funded by the head of the National Security Bureau. The best result in the soldiers’ category was achieved in the run by Pvt. Krzysztof Maj of the 10th BKPanc and 2nd Lt. Devan Long of the 588th U.S. Army Engineer Battalion. Among the students, the best results were achieved by Kamil Kowalczyk and Weronika Minta from the uniformed class in Zbąszynek. The shooting tournament was won by the Rifle Association of the Republic of Poland team from Dzierżoniów, ahead of the Warta Bolesławiecka Shooting Club team.
“The large turnout at today’s commemorations, alongside the soldiers, of young people from Lower Silesian schools and members of rifle associations is an expression of respect for the Cursed Soldiers for their steadfast attitude and sacrifice,” said Col. Paweł Świtalski, commander of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, emphasizing the Cursed Soldiers’ contribution to the struggle for independence. Marshal Przybylski also stressed the need for younger generations of Poles to preserve the memory of their tragic struggle.
The tribute to the Cursed Soldiers included the reading of the roll of remembrance and an honor salvo, after which, accompanied by the military orchestra from Żagań, participants sang the Representative Song of the Polish Armed Forces and the Representative Song of the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony concluded with a parade of subunits.