Photo By Sgt. Jordan Johnson | Swidwin, Poland mayor Jan Owsiak (left) holds a Special Operations Command patch given...... read more read more
SWIDWIN, Poland - Over a two-week span in September, residents of the small farming town of Swidwin, Poland, saw nearly 1,000 special operations personnel from Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine and the United States visit their quaint community.
Whether during the day or at night, military personnel participating in the Jackal Stone 10 exercise, who resided at the 21st Tactical Airbase just outside the edge of town, took time to partake the local cuisine, shop or just simply engage in simple conversation with the local Swidwin residents.
As a small gesture of appreciation and to recognize the townspeople for their hospitality, U.S. and Polish generals visited Swidwin’s mayor on Sept. 23.
“Being here has offered us great opportunities to experience your culture and what goes on here,” Maj. Gen. Michael S. Repass, commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, said to Swidwin mayor Jan Owsiak.
Repass was accompanied by Polish Brig. Gen. Marek Olbrycht, deputy commanding general, Polish Special Operations Forces Command, who thanked the mayor on behalf of all Jackal Stone participants for Swidwin residents’ kindness.
During the gathering, the mayor and generals shared stories, discussed culture and exchanged gifts.
“These gifts from Special Operations Command Europe are for you and the people of Swidwin,” said Repass.
Not only was Repass thankful for Swidwin’s hospitality, but Owsiak was also complimentary towards his guests from the United States.
“The people of Swidwin say the Americans have been very friendly,” said Owsiak.
According to the mayor, hosting the exercise brought national attention to the Swidwin area, which instilled pride in the local residents.
“It [Jackal Stone 10] has brought great recognition here,” Owsiak said. “It raises the prestige of the city because soldiers were here. On the first day of the exercise, Swidwin was mentioned in media all around the country.”
Not only has the mayor already seen the encouraging effects of having a multi-national training exercise in his city, but he hopes to continue to see positive results in the future.
“Because of our proximity to the base, we profit both financially and politically,” Owsiak said. “It is hard to say if there will be a good lasting impression since the exercise is still ongoing, but so far we have had a good partnership. Americans have left a positive image for us to remember.”
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2010 03:00 |
| Story ID: | 56953 |
| Location: | SWIDWIN, PL |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, US, Polish generals express gratitude to town of Swidwin, by SGT Jordan Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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