A military ceremony was preceded by the “Norma No. 13” Cross Commando, held in the morning and contested for the Brown Bear statuette. In this year’s fourth edition of the run—modeled on the cross-country races of special forces units—nearly 300 participants from across the country took on a demanding, varied eight-and-a-half-kilometer course. Competitors started in the following categories: soldier, uniformed-class student, soldier in uniform with a 20-kilogram backpack, and youth categories. After completing the race, every participant received a commemorative medal, while the winners of the individual categories received Brown Bear statuettes and prizes.
The main event of the celebrations was a ceremonial assembly during which the history and achievements of the Bolesławiec commandos were recalled. At precisely 12:00 p.m., the president of the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Commando Special Company, Lt. Col. Andrzej Żdan, received a report confirming readiness to begin the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the formation of the 62nd Special Company.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by representatives of the General Commander of the Armed Forces Branches, Brig. Gen. Sławomir Owczarek; the president of the Polish Parachutists’ Association, retired Maj. Gen. Jan Kempara; former deputy commander of the Special Forces, retired Brig. Gen. Marek Olbrycht; retired Maj. Gen. Janusz Ornatowski; Brig. Gen. Antoni Skibiński; commanders of units cooperating with the Association; administrative authorities; commanders of uniformed services; and members of historical reenactment groups preserving the traditions of special forces units.
This year’s jubilee gathering of generations of soldiers from the elite special unit had a unique character. After extensive renovation, a monument commemorating the fallen and deceased soldiers of the 1st Independent Commando Company and the deceased soldiers of the 62nd Special Company was consecrated. A replica of the banner of the 1st Independent Commando Company, funded by the Association and institutions supporting the preservation of the memory of the achievements of commandos who fought on the Italian front during World War II, was also presented to the Commando Historical Reenactment Group from Swarzędz. The company’s historic banner was transferred in 2015 to the Commando Military Unit, whose Combat Team “B” inherits the Commando traditions.
As recognition of the activities of the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Commando Special Company, the commander of the Special Forces Component, Brig. Gen. Wojciech Marchwica, awarded it the “Meritorious to the Special Forces” medal for assisting JWK soldiers and promoting a positive image of the Special Forces. The medal was also awarded to the Association’s vice president, retired senior warrant officer Bogdan Fiałkowski. Members of a delegation from the Association of Riflemen of the Republic of Poland highlighted the organization’s work in the pro-defense education of young people, as well as its professionalism and support. On behalf of the Commander of the Silesian District, they expressed their thanks to the president of the Commando Association, Lt. Col. Andrzej Żdan; the commander of the AGAT Military Unit, Col. Sławomir Drumowicz; and the commander of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, Col. Paweł Świtalski.
During the assembly, the Association’s Board honored its most distinguished members and people supporting its activities with Commando 50th-anniversary badges and commemorative gorgets.
The ceremony at the monument concluded with the reading of the Roll Call of Remembrance and the laying of flowers at the monument commemorating the fallen commandos. As is traditional, the assembly ended with a parade of generations of the “Bolesławiec maroon berets”—soldiers of the special company. After the ceremonial assembly, participants had the opportunity to view the specialized equipment presented by JWK soldiers, as well as historical equipment presented by the Historical Reenactment Group of the 1st Independent Commando Company from Swarzędz and Świdnica. The gathering ended with a meeting of members of the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Company, after which the commandos visited the graves of deceased comrades resting in the Bolesławiec cemetery.