Photo By Spc. Kevin Wang | Battle Group Poland and Polish 15th Mechanized Brigade leaders join the mayor and...... read more read more
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GIZYCKO, Poland— Battle Group Poland soldiers helped residents celebrate the Polish three-day holiday season known as Majówka by participating in several patriotic-themed events in Gizycko and Orzysz May 1-3, 2017.
The first celebration for Polish Labor Day May 1 was in Gizycko, the largest town on the Great Mazurian Lake. The mayor of Gizycko, Wojciech Karol Iwaszkiewicz, invited commanders of Battle Group Poland to help the town kick off the start of their summer sailing season by opening the town’s swing bridge. The revolving bridge, one of the very few structures of its kind in Europe, allows sailboats down the Gizycko channel which connects lakes Niegocin and Kisajno.
U.S Army Lt. Col. Steven Gventer, British army Maj. Noel Claydon-Swales and Romanian army Maj. Christian Dumitru joined the mayor and other city and regional officials in manually turning the bridge. They then helped judge the parade of decorated boats as they passed through the channel.
As the Battle Group Poland leaders interacted with the residents of the lake town, Tomek Rymerz, a resident of Gizycko, stated that Battle Group Poland being here is like a sign of freedom.
“With all that Poland has gone through with the World Wars and then Soviet Union occupation, we’re happy to have our freedom back and therefore it’s good to see soldiers here. We have good relationship with U.S. Army,” Tomek said.
The next day, Battle Group Poland soldiers participated in two events in Gizycko as the town celebrated Polish Flag Day, which commemorates raising of the Polish flag on the Victory Column at the end of the Battle of Berlin May 2, 1945.
First, the Battle Group participated in a flag raising ceremony and set up a static display at the annual Garrison Family Picnic and Fun Run. U.S Army Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Chadwick and Gen. Jarosław Gromadziński, Polish 15th Mechanized Brigade commander, finished the 1,000 meter run together. Several Soldiers ran the 3,000 meter race with U.S Army Lt. Collum Magee of the battle group’s field artillery battery finishing in 3rd place.
From there the battle group moved to the Gizycko Marina for more Flag Day celebrations. Two U.S. Soldiers from the battle group took advantage of the patriotic atmosphere to reenlist in front of their Stryker.
The last day of Majówka, May 3, is Constitution Day and Gventer and other Battle Group Poland soldiers participated in a memorial ceremony and attended a mass at the local church in Orzysz, paying their respects along with 15th Mechanized Brigade Polish soldiers and residents.
In his speech at the ceremony, Gventer told a story about Casimir Pulaski, a cavalry officer born in Poland who is praised for his contributions to the U.S. military during the Revolutionary War.
“When he arrived in America, he wrote to General George Washington asking to join the fight. He said ‘I came here where freedom is being defended, to serve it, or to live or die for it,’” Gventer said. “We want to thank you for such a great friendship that goes all the way back to our fledgling times of democracy. We are proud to be part of a NATO, and happy to be in Poland to ensure that all of our freedoms are defended.”
Afterwards the battle group set up a static display showing the citizens of Orzysz the equipment and soldiers.
Local resident Grzegorz Szwarc was excited to meet the soldiers of Battle Group Poland, as he said that Poland feels a lot safer with the battle group being here. He added, “If you attack from the east, it’s not just attacking us, it’s like an attack on many countries. It’s a good thing we have now formed an army from different nations.”
Battle Group Poland, a unique formation of more than 1,000 American, British and Romanian soldiers, is serving with the Polish 15th Mechanized Brigade in support of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence, a multinational contribution to demonstrate the Alliance's readiness and resolve to deter and defend Eastern Europe.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2017 17:48 |
| Story ID: | 232928 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 573 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Battle Group Poland soldiers help Polish neighbors celebrate patriotic-themed three-day holiday season, by SPC Kevin Wang, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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