The celebrations of the most important holiday for soldiers began at 7:00 a.m. with a run by soldiers stationed in the Bolesławiec garrison. More than two hundred Polish and American soldiers, united by a shared effort, commemorated the great victory of Marshal Józef Piłsudski over the Red Army in 1920 by running shoulder to shoulder over a symbolic distance of five kilometres. After the run, they competed together in volleyball and a fitness competition Half Murphy Challenge, which once again helped strengthen allied ties.
The military ceremonies began with a Holy Mass at the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Bolesławiec. The Eucharist for the soldiers was celebrated by the dean of the Bolesławiec Zachód deanery, Rev. Dr Stanisław Kusik, chaplain of the military parish in Świętoszów, Capt. Marek Zieliński, and parish priest of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Wojciech Mroszczak.
The main event of the holiday, which is the most important one for soldiers, was a ceremonial assembly. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Polish soldiers and employees of the national defence ministry were sappers from the US Army’s 91st Engineer Battalion.
At the invitation of the regiment commander, Col. Grzegorz Potrzuski, the celebrations were attended by representatives of the local authorities of Bolesławiec County, the authorities of the cities of Bolesławiec and Zgorzelec, representatives of artillery circles and former regiment soldiers, commanders and heads of garrison institutions and units, colour guards of veterans’ associations and organisations, members of associations and unions bringing together Polish Armed Forces soldiers, as well as representatives of uniformed services and institutions cooperating with the regiment.
After the Polish and American national flags were raised and the national anthems played, the commander of the regiment, Col. Grzegorz Potrzuski, emphasised the importance and significance of the Battle of Warsaw in preserving our Homeland’s sovereignty and protecting Western Europe from the Bolshevik revolution:
On 15 August 19820, a battle took place on the approaches to Warsaw in which the Polish Army defeated the Bolshevik forces and saved the recently regained independence. The Polish Armed Forces, commanded by Marshal Józef Piłsudski, achieved a great victory over the Red Army. Our Forefathers, demonstrating the greatest determination and heroism along the Vistula, Wieprz and Wkra rivers, secured an independent existence for the Homeland […].
Today, we once again recall that time with great respect and reflection. By paying tribute to our soldier predecessors, we express our remembrance of their momentous deeds and the moral values they fostered, which, despite the passage of years, remain unchanged for soldiers and citizens alike—faith in God, Honour and Homeland.
Thanking the county and city authorities for their goodwill and for creating a favourable climate for the military in Bolesławiec, Col. Potrzuski expressed his appreciation for the service of soldiers and civilian employees of the armed forces, thanking them for their commitment and high performance in their official duties.
Next, the city and county authorities spoke, emphasising the role of soldiers in ensuring security and the good cooperation between the regiment’s soldiers and the local community. On the occasion of Polish Armed Forces Day, greetings were also read out from the Minister of National Defence and the commander of the 11th Lubusz Armoured Cavalry Division to the soldiers and employees of the national defence ministry.
The ceremonial assembly provided an opportunity to present promotion certificates to soldiers promoted to the next military ranks, honour soldiers achieving the highest results in their official duties, and award regiment commemorative badges. After the decisions of superiors and the commander’s ceremonial order had been read out, Colonel Potrzuski, accompanied by former head of the WRiA SOW, retired Gen. Antoni Skibiński and former commander of the 23rd Artillery Brigade, retired Col. Jan Biały, presented ministry medals and promotion certificates to the regiment’s officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers.
Then, accompanied by Bolesławiec County Governor Karol Stasik and the Mayor of the City Piotr Roman, he honoured soldiers with commendation letters bearing a photograph against the military banner and presented regiment commemorative badges. (Earlier, however, he had received from the senior assistant to the commander for non-commissioned officers, Senior Warrant Officer Mariusz Skroński, Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman and former deputy commander of the 23rd Artillery Brigade, retired Col. Mirosław Sołtyszewski, the commemorative badge of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, awarded by the Chapter on the occasion of his assuming the post).
In tribute to the known and unknown soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces who gave their lives defending the Homeland, the Roll of Remembrance was read out. After the Representative Song of the Polish Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces were played, the soldiers’ assembly concluded with a parade of subunits.
After the ceremony, soldiers’ families met at a military picnic organised together with the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Company “Commando”. The organisers prepared numerous competitions and games requiring knowledge of military subjects and agility. The picnic also featured demonstrations of military equipment used by the regiment’s subunits and the sappers of the 91st Engineer Battalion, which is part of the Armoured Brigade Combat Team.
The continuation of the Bolesławiec celebrations of Polish Armed Forces Day and the 98th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw was a Holy Mass at the Bolesławiec Marian Basilica, held on 15 August. During the service, artillery soldiers and city residents honoured the memory of the soldiers in a joint prayer. The service, presided over by the dean of the Bolesławiec deanery, Monsignor Dr Andrzej Jarosiewicz, was attended by the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment’s military honour guard, soldiers and their families.