Szanowny Czytelniku,
Stowarzyszenie Józefa Piłsudskiego "Orzeł Strzelecki" uczestniczyło w 96. Pielgrzymce do grobów hallerczyków w Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Jednym z wielu mówców, był dr Kazimierz Braun z University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Przemówienie pana Brauna zasługuje na szczególną uwagę, ponieważ ma ciągłość pokoleniową i uczy nas o roli Kościoła i rodziny w wychowaniu przyszłych pokoleń. Poprosiłem o tekst przemówienia pana Brauna i zgodę na opublikowanie w prasie.
Stowarzyszenie Józefa Piłsudskiego "Orzeł Strzelecki", komendant Grzegorz Waśniewski, dziękuje za udostępnienie i zgodę na publikację treści wystąpienia.
Oto pełna treść przemówienia.
PATRIOTISM—A GUIDING PRINCIPLE
Dr. Kazimierz Braun
(A speech given at the Polish Kościuszko Army Cemetery in Niagara-on-the Lake, Canada, June 9, 2013)
Why are we here? We are here today to pay our respects to Polish patriots. Young Poles, who are resting in peace in these graves, were members of Polish immigration to America. Either they themselves were newly arrived immigrants to the United States and Canada, or they were sons of new immigrants; rarely grand-sons. They were a part of the generation that founded the "American Polonia" or the "Canadian Polonia". They are, therefore, our direct predecessors.
Some of them, like others fell here—not in France fighting Germans in 1918, or in Poland, fighting the Bolsheviks in 1920. They died because of the terrible pandemic of the world-wide so called "Spanish Flu", which killed dozens of millions. Out of forty one deceased, twenty five are buried here. All of them were members of the twenty two thousand solider / volunteers strong Polish Kosciuszko Army, organized by Ignacy Paderewski and supervised by Roman Dmowski. Later General Jozef Haller became its commander. Even if they died here instead on the battlefields, they belong to the community of Polish heroes fallen for their country throughout the history. They are brothers of millions of Polish soldiers and civilians, men and women, who gave their lives guided by the principle of patriotism.
Their patriotism was not only a family tradition, an abstract idea, or a verbal declaration. It acquired a practical dimension with practical consequences: a decision to give sweat and pain while training in the fields surrounding this town, and a decision to give blood and life for Poland on the battlefields.
"Patriotism", comes from the Latin word "Patria". "Patria" (in Polish "Ojczyzna") means the land of the fathers, and denotes both "nation" and "state".
"Patriotism" for these men meant love of Poland, of the Polish nation and of the Polish state, at that time nonexistent, which they wanted to resurrect.
Even if they were already embedded in America, Poland was for them a great objective and a great value. Indeed, for generation after generation of Poles, patriotism has been considered a great and noble value.
We, gathered here today, owe them a moment of reflection on Polish patriotism: is it still a guiding value for the Poles and for Polish immigrants, for us?
Many facts, developments, and news from Poland, as well as information coming from the ranks of Polonia, seem to indicate that on the one hand, there are scores of people and organizations for whom patriotism is still a leading value. It is proclaimed and practiced by politicians, as well as workers, scholars, farmers, artists, journalists, craftsmen, and many others. Among them we have to remember first of all the late President Lech Kaczynski killed at Smolensk. It guides the activities of such organizations as The Polish American Congress, The Polish Canadian Congress, some Polish political parties, some news organizations (for example, Father Rydzyk’s Television "Trwam"), and many more.
At the same time, we observe that Polish patriotism is under constant and mounting attack. Patriotic individuals and groups in Poland and in the Polish Diaspora are marginalized. Their work and activities are repressed. For example, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs quite recently cut subsidies for cultural and educational programs for scores of Polish schools, clubs, and groups abroad apparently because they taught patriotism. Our brothers and sisters who live East of the present Polish border were especially harmed by these cuts. More specifically, vacations in Poland for many children were suspended and exchange programs between Polish schools and their counterparts in Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were terminated.
There are politicians, political parties, and newspapers (for example "Gazeta Wyborcza") that seek to tarnish the patriotic pride of Poles and relegate the love of Poland to a museum of relics of the past.
The Polish Prime Minster, Donald Tusk said: "<<Polish spirit>>is abnormal. <<Polish spirit>> makes me sick. Poland is a myth."
Poland—a myth? Certainly for these soldiers, who rest here, Poland was not a myth; but a reality for which they decided to give their lives. These fallen Polish heroes provide an example for us to follow. We are grateful to them for their sacrifice.
We are grateful to the town of Niagara on the Lake for the hospitality offered these soldiers nearly one hundred years ago; and for still preserving their memory today. We are grateful to all of you, whose very presence here testifies that our Polish spirit and Polish patriotism are still alive and strong.
Dr. Kazimierz Braun
"Polish Sunday" w Niagara-on-the-Lake
Piękne uroczystości 9 czerwca 2013 roku, na Polskim Cmentarzu Wojennym w Niagara-on-the-Lake, w 96. rocznicę Czynu Zbrojnego Polonii Amerykańskiej i Kanadyjskiej, które były przygotowane i przeprowadzone przez Kongres Polonii Kanadyjskiej Okręg Niagara, poprzedziło warte odnotowania wydarzenie.
W tym roku, na godzinę przed rozpoczęciem uroczystości na Polskim Cmentarzu Wojennym, w sąsiednim, anglikańskim kościele pod wezwaniem św. Marka odbyło się nabożeństwo, pierwsze od kilkudziesięciu lat, dla uhonorowania "Polish Sunday".
Tak właśnie przez mieszkańców Niagara-on-the-Lake nazywany jest dzień, w którym odbywa się coroczna polonijna pielgrzymka do Polskiego Cmentarza Wojennego, gdzie pochowani są polscy żołnierze zmarli w latach 1917–1919 podczas szkolenia ochotniczej Armii Polskiej.
Z okazji tego dnia, historyczne wydarzenia sprzed blisko stu lat i ich znaczenie dla Niagara-on-the-Lake przedstawił licznie przybyłym do kościoła parafianom prof. Donald Combe, b. wykładowca University of London w Wielkiej Brytanii, archiwista St. Mark's Anglican Church i członek Niagara Historical Society & Museum. Mówca przypomniał między innymi, że właśnie na terenie cmentarza przy kościele św. Marka pochowana została Elizabeth C. Ascher, osoba o wielkich zasługach dla Niagara-on-the-Lake, a także dla sprawy odzyskania przez Polskę niepodległości podczas pierwszej wojny światowej.
Zachęcił zgromadzonych do przeczytania okolicznościowego eseju, zamieszczonego w biuletynie parafialnym, o którego napisanie parafia św. Marka poprosiła Romana Baranieckiego, członka Niagara Historical Society & Museum.
Prof. Donald Combe podziękował także Romanowi Baranieckiemu i Andrzejowi Kawce (również członkowi Niagara Historical Society & Museum) za kilkuletnie badania historyczne i za zaangażowanie w pogłębianie wiedzy na temat pobytu Armii Polskiej w Niagara-on-the-Lake. Podziękował szczególnie za studia nad biografią Elizabeth C. Ascher i za przybliżenie jej sylwetki mieszkańcom miasta.
Następnie dla uczczenia "Polish Sunday" chór z Grace Church On-the-Hill z Toronto (specjalnie zaproszony na niedzielne nabożeństwo) wykonał motet "Locus Iste" Antona Brucknera.
Po zakończeniu uroczystości Roman Baraniecki podziękował parafii za uhonorowanie drugiej niedzieli czerwca, która tak wiele dla Polaków znaczy.
W nabożeństwie, które odbyło się w kościele św. Marka, uczestniczył dr Richard Merritt, członek Niagara Historical Society & Museum oraz autor książek opisujących historię regionu i miasta. W jego nowej publikacji, której tematem jest ponadstuletnia historia wojskowego obozu szkoleniowego w Niagara-on-the-Lake, znajdzie się również rozdział poświęcony szkoleniu w tym mieście żołnierzy Czynu Zbrojnego Polonii Amerykańskiej. W opracowaniu tego rozdziału uczestniczą na prośbę Autora Roman Baraniecki i Andrzej Kawka.
Po opuszczeniu kościoła św. Marka dr Richard Merritt, wraz z autorem tego artykułu, wzięli udział w uroczystościach na terenie Polskiego Cmentarza Wojskowego.
Dr Richard Merritt był mile zaskoczony, gdy wśród składanych wieńców znalazł się również wieniec dla Elizabeth C. Ascher, ufundowany przez Kongres Polonii Kanadyjskiej Okręg Niagara.
Żywe zainteresowanie kanadyjskiego historyka wzbudziła grupa rekonstrukcyjna zaprezentowana na pielgrzymce po raz pierwszy. Harcerze z grupy rekonstrukcyjnej, należący do szczepu "Millenium" z Toronto, ubrani byli w mundury żołnierzy Błękitnej Armii i 2. Korpusu Polskiego. Mundury hallerczyków zostały dostarczone przez Stephena Flora z Rochester, NY, autora eseju do tegorocznego Programu Pielgrzymki, a mundury żołnierzy generała Władysława Andersa skompletował, nakładem własnych środków finansowych, druh Andrzej Kawka z Toronto.
Uhonorowanie "Polish Sunday" w kościele św. Marka było wyraźnym znakiem, że temat szkolenia Armii Polskiej w Niagara-on-the-Lake jest postrzegany w tym mieście coraz bardziej jako temat wspólnej, polsko-kanadyjskiej historii. Pojawiła się, zdaniem autora, wola środowisk edukacyjnych Niagara-on-the-Lake, aby badania historyczne i medialny przekaz tego bezprecedensowego wydarzenia w historii Kanady rozwijały się w tym właśnie kierunku.
Konsekwentna współpraca z ośrodkami kulturalnymi w Niagara-on-the-Lake, nasz wkład w gromadzenie i opracowywanie dokumentów archiwalnych, interpretację materiałów ikonograficznych oraz eksponatów znajdujących się w kolekcji muzeum, wspólne kwerendy w zasobach archiwów i bibliotek, jak również udostępnianie historykom kanadyjskim dorobku polskiej historiografii dotyczącej tego tematu, sprawiają, że w Niagara-on-the-Lake rośnie wiedza o Polsce i Polakach.
Roman Baraniecki
Poniżej zamieszczony jest tekst okolicznościowy dołączony dnia 9 czerwca 2013 roku do biuletynu niedzielnego anglikańskiej parafii przy kościele pod wezwaniem św. Marka w Niagara-on-the-Lake.
At the end of the eighteenth century Poland was partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria and erased from the political map of the World. The dearest dream of generations of Polish people was to liberate their country. In order to achieve this goal many uprisings were organized, but all were unsuccessful (Canada’s Sir Casimir Gzowski took part in one of these revolts). Polish people, however, never abandoned the idea of national freedom.
During the First World War, Polish immigrants in the United States and Canada, led by Ignacy Paderewski, came up with the idea of forming the Polish Army in Canada. This project was discussed with Canadian, French and American governments. Over twenty two thousand s volunteer Polish soldiers trained in Niagara-on-the-Lake between 1917 and 1919. They were trained by Canadian officers in a programme paid by France. This army fought first in France, and later helped to liberate Poland after 123 years of enslavement. The nation’s dream finally came true.
Each year, the second Sunday of June, the people of Niagara-on-the-Lake witness the arrival of representatives of Polish communities from Canada and the United States. These include members of Canadian Parliament, Polish Counsels, Mayors of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls, leaders of Polish-Canadian and Polish-American organizations, and veterans.
They come here to pay homage to those Polish soldiers, who were ready to fight for their country, but succumbed to the outbreak of deadly influenza during military training. They are buried in the St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery. They graves provide a lasting memorial to this great patriotic enterprise.
This tribute is paid also to the people of Niagara-on-the-Lake, who provided these foreign soldiers with unprecedented social, cultural, material, medical and emphatic support while being stationed here and who contributed greatly to the cause of Poland’s independence.
Members of the local Women’s Institute launched a regional relief campaign, conducted by Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ascher, the social activist and journalist, to help the civilian population in war-torn Poland. The community of Niagara-on-the-Lake was second only to Montreal in providing such help to suffering Poland.
Elizabeth Ascher, a long- time member of St.Mark’s, was called the "Angel of Mercy" by Polish soldiers for the charity she provided to the soldiers of the Polish Army during influenza outbreak. She was later instrumental in the establishment of the Polish Military Cemetery on the grounds of the Catholic parish of St. Vincent de Paul as a final resting place for the Polish soldiers who perished during the epidemic. She remained the caretaker of this cemetery until she died in 1941.
Poland and Polish veterans trained in Niagara-on-the-Lake didn’t forget these extraordinary deeds. In1922 Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ascher became the first Canadian civilian decorated with the Order of Polonia Restituta in recognition of her kindness towards the soldiers and her devotion to the Polish cause.
It was considered to be the highest honour accorded to a foreigner by the government of the restored Poland. Elizabeth C. Ascher received this medal as a symbol of deepest gratitude from the Polish Nation.
Elizabeth Ascher was also awarded the Medal of Haller in 1923, and later, the Medal of Haller’s Swords in 1925 at the request of veteran soldiers from America. The Polish Government also presented her with the Cross of Merit in 1934, and later, the Medal for Long Service in 1938 which was granted to mark the tenth anniversary of her being promoted to the rank of Honorary Colonel of the Polish Army in 1928. In 1930 she became a life-long honorary vice-president of the Polish Army Veterans Association of America. She was also a life member of the Polish White Cross.
Every year, on Polish Sunday, wreaths and flowers from the Polish community are being placed on Elizbeth Ascher’s resting place at St. Mark’s Anglican Church cemetery.
Roman Baraniecki
