We invoke memory as duty.
On Sunday, August 17, members of the Polish-American community in Metro Detroit gathered in solemn remembrance and patriotic pride at the Archdiocese Sanctuaries of St. John Paul II in Orchard Lake to celebrate Polish Armed Forces Day. This annual observance honors the bravery and sacrifice of all those who fought for Poland’s freedom and sovereignty.
The organizers of the Polish Army Day ceremony were: St. John Paul II Liturgical Center, Polish Army Veterans Association of America (SWAP), Polish American Congress in Michigan, and Polish Institute of Culture & Research. Representatives of the Polish Scouting also took part in Sunday’s celebrations.
The ceremony began with a Holy Mass dedicated to the fallen heroes of Poland, celebrated by Father Bernard Witek, whose words, which resonated with hope, refer to the Gospel. The voices of the Filareti Choir beautifully enriched the liturgy as they paid patriotic tribute to the enduring legacy of Poland’s defenders.
Jurek Rozalski read the roll call of the fallen. Also, he reminded that the Polish Army Veterans Association of America (SWAP) is the oldest independent, self-help organization of former Polish soldiers in the world, operating continuously since 1921.
The Roll Call of the Fallen on Polish Armed Forces Day primarily commemorates those who gave their lives in defense of their homeland, with particular emphasis on the heroes of the Battle of Warsaw in 1920. It was this victory over the Bolsheviks that formed the basis for the establishment of this holiday in 1923.
Next year, reading the Appeal of the Fallen should be supplemented with the Defenders of Lviv and the Volyn Massacre.
We speak for those who cannot, so that their sacrifice is never lost to time.
After the Mass, representatives of veterans from District VI and the KPA, Michigan, laid flowers at the monument of General Józef Haller.
Sunday celebration served not only as a tribute to Poland’s Armed Forces history but also as a reaffirmation of cultural identity and solidarity among Polonia in Metro Detroit.
