The anniversary celebrations on November 12 began with a Mass for the firefighters at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Gierałtów, celebrated by parish priest Janusz Leszczyński. The ceremony then continued with a report on its commencement submitted at the fire station, the raising of the national flag and the playing of the national anthem.
After the invited guests were welcomed by OSP president Stanisław Żółtański, a ceremony to present medals, badges, distinctions and awards began. The Volunteer Fire Department in Gierałtów was awarded the Gold Medal “For Merits to the Fire Service” by Tomasz Stanowski, president of the Provincial Board of the Association of Volunteer Fire Departments of the Republic of Poland.
Many firefighters received gold, silver and bronze “For Merits to the Fire Service” medals, badges, distinctions and awards; two volunteers received the “Model Firefighter” badge, as well as badges of the Youth Fire Brigades.
The firefighters also thanked their donors and invited guests. At the end, they invited everyone gathered to tour the fire station and enjoy refreshments.
The Volunteer Fire Department in Gierałtów was founded by Jan Zazulak in March 1946, after displaced people from Świrz and Kopań arrived, and was the first such department in Bolesławiec County. Many of the displaced people had volunteered with the Świrz Fire Brigade. Initially, the department had a German four-person hand-operated fire pump transported by a pair of horses belonging to the farmer living closest to the fire station. The department also had a brass band led by its first commander, firefighter Jan Zazulak.
Initially, the private property of the then commander served as the department’s headquarters. In 1948, the OSP received a room in the community center. In 1965, Antoni Szwed became OSP president, and Michał Szuter became its commander.
The Gierałtów OSP was highly valued for its training, mobility and participation in firefighting operations. In January 1975, the General Meeting decided to build a new fire station. With financial assistance from local and firefighting authorities, the station was built as a community effort and put into use at the end of 1975.
In 1984, the unit received its colors, while in 1989 the Provincial Headquarters in Jelenia Góra awarded it a new STAR 200 fire engine with full equipment. In 1996, the Gierałtów OSP celebrated its 50th anniversary and was awarded the Silver Medal “For Merits to the Fire Service”.
Over the years, OSP members received “For Merits to the Fire Service” medals. Three firefighters were honored with the highest firefighting distinction, the Gold Badge of the Association; they are:
- firefighter Jan Zazulak – founder of the OSP and also bandmaster of the brass band that operated for many years;
- firefighter Michał Szuter – an active firefighting campaigner, builder of the fire station and promoter of fire-protection principles.
In 2005, firefighter Michał Szuter was posthumously awarded the Bolesław Chomicz Medal of Honor, as was firefighter Józef Zborowski.
Thanks to the local government authorities of Nowogrodziec gmina, the fire station building underwent a major renovation in 2010. At the beginning of 2016, a generational change took place among the firefighters: firefighter Stanisław Żółtański became OSP president. In the same year, Nowogrodziec Gmina purchased an Iveco fire engine.
An important change in the operation of the Gierałtów OSP is that girls are joining the ranks of rescuers and taking part in rescue operations. The girls’ and boys’ Youth Fire Brigades are undoubtedly a major success for the unit and guarantee its continuity across generations.