Bolesławiec City Council approved the installation of a commemorative plaque bearing the inscription: “After exile and a starvation ordeal in Siberia, we returned to our Homeland. In memory of the 68th anniversary of our return” on the “Kresowiaków” monument in Bolesławiec. The monument is located at Plac Wolności. The commemorative plaque will be funded by the Bolesławiec branch of the “Związek Sybiraków”.
The “Kresowiaków” monument was erected in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first railway transport of Poles resettled from the Eastern Borderlands—the Drohobych Land. The foundation act for the unveiling of the monument was issued on 17 September 1995. The monument was built in the form of a stark obelisk, symbolizing hard work, perseverance, service to the Homeland and great patriotism. It was intended to be simple and austere, like the fate of the resettled people. It was meant to recall the suffering, humiliation and pain caused by the loss of loved ones, and to testify to the historical truth.
On 20 April 1996, a second plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Yugoslavian Polonia community in Bolesławiec was placed on the monument. On 30 April 2004, another plaque was added to commemorate the arrival of repatriates from France.
The commemorative plaque of the Bolesławiec branch of the “Związek Sybiraków”, commemorating the 68th anniversary of the return from Siberia, will be the fourth and final plaque, thereby completing all activities associated with the “Kresowiaków” monument.
(commissioned information)