Held once again in the Bolesławiec garrison, the divisional celebrations of Artillery Day brought together military communities and supporters of the branch of service symbolized by crossed gun barrels.
The celebrations began with a Mass for the intention of the artillerymen at the Bolesławiec Marian Basilica. The Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Prelate Dr. Andrzej Jarosiewicz, rector of the Bolesławiec Marian Basilica, and chaplain of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Lt. Rev. Andrzej Bawer.
After the Mass, a symbolic act commemorating the regiment’s patron, Lt. Gen. Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski, took place on the unit’s grounds. Through the efforts of military circles, a commemorative plaque was installed in the square in front of the staff building, dedicated to the memory of the great general and artilleryman, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army during the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, a military designer and inventor in the field of artillery, and above all one of the most distinguished Polish commanders of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The importance of the event was underscored by the participation of the president of the Jordan-Rozwadowski Family Association, Piotr Rozwadowski, who together with the regiment commander, Col. Grzegorz Potrzuski, ceremonially unveiled the plaque.
The main part of the celebrations was a military assembly, whose significance was emphasized by the participation of the deputy commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Division, Brig. Gen. Dr. Dariusz Parylak, the division’s Chief of Rocket and Artillery Forces, Col. Jacek Kiliński, as well as the commanders and chiefs of the Rocket and Artillery Forces of the Black Division’s units.
At the invitation of the regiment commander, the celebrations were attended by former chiefs of the Rocket and Artillery Forces, led by retired Brig. Gen. Antoni Skibiński, the commander of the US Army engineering battalion stationed in Bolesławiec and the deputy commander of the Paladin artillery battalion stationed in Toruń, representatives of artillery communities, commanders of former artillery units stationed in the Bolesławiec garrison, the administrative authorities of Bolesławiec, and commanders of garrison institutions.
After the reading of superiors’ decisions and ceremonial orders, General Parylak, Colonel Kiliński and the commander of the Bolesławiec artillerymen, Colonel Potrzuski, presented departmental decorations, letters of commendation featuring a photograph of a soldier against the background of the flag of the Republic of Poland and the unit’s colors, as well as congratulatory letters to artillerymen from the 11th Armored Cavalry Division units for achieving excellent results in their official duties.
At the end, the winners of this year’s competition for the title of “11th Armored Cavalry Division Artillery Fire Master” were honored. The title was won by Second Lt. Łukasz Więckiewicz (23rd Artillery Regiment). First runner-up was Lt. Łukasz Lenart (23rd Artillery Regiment), while second runner-up was Capt. Marcin Dziedzic (10th Armored Cavalry Brigade).
Commander of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Colonel Grzegorz Potrzuski:
Rocket and Artillery Forces Day, celebrated on Saint Barbara’s Day, is an expression of respect for the centuries-old tradition, history and achievements of our special branch of service.
Firepower, speed and precision of engagement are evidence of the ongoing modernization of the Rocket and Artillery Forces and of the importance our branch of service plays on the modern battlefield.
In his speech, the commander also recalled the most important tasks carried out by the regiment during the current year and emphasized the importance of tradition in the daily service of artillerymen. At the end, he thanked the soldiers and employees of the Ministry of National Defence of the 23rd Artillery Regiment for their commitment and effort in their daily service.
The deputy commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Division, Brig. Gen. Dr. Dariusz Parylak, congratulated those honored and thanked them for their professionalism and the effort devoted to their daily service:
One particular characteristic associated with the Rocket and Artillery Forces for centuries is precision of action and enormous effectiveness, which fits perfectly with the motto of the Black Division. The motto, defined by the division commander, consists of three Ps: “on time, on target, with certainty.” And this can be said of the Rocket and Artillery Forces throughout the division, which prove this credo every day on training grounds, during live firing and in exercises.
The commander of the 8th Engineering Battalion, Lt. Col. Arlo Reese, also spoke, emphasizing the good cooperation with the Bolesławiec artillerymen. Representatives of the municipal and county authorities of Bolesławiec, in addition to offering warm words to the soldiers, addressed cooperation at the local level.
Later during the assembly, soldiers of the 3rd Rocket Artillery Battalion of the 23rd Artillery Regiment and American soldiers stationed in the Bolesławiec barracks demonstrated hand-to-hand combat skills. The dynamic “Combat 19” display, prepared by martial arts instructor Senior Private Mateusz Gawura (4th dan karate), included elements of traditional karate, krav maga and kickboxing.
The military assembly ended with a parade of subunits, after which delegations from the Black Division and artillery communities laid flowers beneath commemorative plaques dedicated to artillery units that had been stationed in the Bolesławiec garrison, as well as to fallen and deceased artillerymen.
At the same time, as part of an open barracks day, the unit hosted school students, who had the opportunity to learn about military equipment and the traditions inherited by artillerymen, as well as the military equipment of American subunits stationed in Bolesławiec.