Despite the relatively low temperature, the atmosphere that day was truly hot. The children’s sincere smiles warmed the hearts of all the soldiers. It was one of the youngest groups ever to visit the unit in Świętoszów. The three- and four-year-olds were eager to see what soldiers’ daily service looks like.
The visit began a few minutes after nine o’clock with a presentation of the equipment used by the brigade. Representatives of the individual subunits gladly explained to the children what each vehicle was used for. The preschoolers saw, among other things, Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tanks, a BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, a 2S1 “Goździk” self-propelled howitzer, and a BRDM armored personnel carrier.
Admittedly, the variety of vehicles was not all that important, because to the children, anything with tracks was a tank. Nevertheless, all the “tanks” provided unforgettable experiences, and the opportunity to see inside them was an even greater attraction for the preschoolers. Every child wanted to find out what soldiers do when driving around the training ground and whether there is a lot of space inside the vehicles.
The soldiers of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade patiently answered every question. And there were plenty of them. Each answer prompted a wave of further questions, while curious eyes listened with interest to the men and women in uniform, some of whom reminded the children of their own fathers and mothers, who were also soldiers. Some children even declared that they too would become soldiers in the future and, of course, drive a tank... Thus, in a dozen or so years, the ranks of the Świętoszów unit may perhaps be joined by those who dreamed of putting on a uniform from their earliest years.
After visiting the Technical Equipment Park, the children went to the soldiers’ dining hall, where they ate a second breakfast. It was not military pea soup, but sandwiches. Fed and eager for new experiences, the little ones moved on to complete the next items on the planned visit.
At the Hall of Tradition, Mirosław Kowalczyk faced a difficult task. How could he tell such young children about history without making them sleepy? He handled it very well. He spoke briefly about the national colors and the armored brigade’s banner, and referred to the words of the military oath, which are so important to every soldier. Pointing to the uniforms displayed in the cases, he explained how soldiers dressed in the past. In his presentation, he also mentioned General Stanisław Maczek, describing his bravery and that of the soldiers under his command.
After the short history lesson, one more—and final—attraction awaited the preschoolers that day. On the Śnieżnik shooting simulator, soldiers from the command battalion gave a demonstration that delighted all the children. The loud sounds did not discourage them from watching what the soldiers had prepared.
After a day full of attractions, the tired but happy preschoolers returned to Osiecznica. Once back at preschool, they would certainly have plenty to tell their loved ones.
As a memento of their visit to the armored brigade, the children and teachers from the Municipal Preschool in Osiecznica gave the commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade a thank-you note for making it possible to spend several hours at the unit. To express their gratitude, the youngest visitors prepared an album of pictures they had colored by hand. And what did the pictures show? Soldiers and tanks, of course.