ORCHARD LAKE, MI — Hundreds of Polish-American veterans and community set to gather at the campus of the Orchard Lake Schools for America’s largest commemoration of the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Offered in partnership with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and museum in Abilene, Kansas. All active and former servicemen and women in attendance to be recognized for their service. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, US Ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull, and Polish Consulate of Chicago pledged support. Fifty percent of all proceeds to go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Vice Consul of the Republic of Poland Konrad Zielinski will attend from Chicago to address the audience. North America’s last living survivor of the Katyn massacre, and also recipient of the Virtuti Militari (Poland’s equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor) will be a guest of honor, and will deliver the keynote address at the
US/Poland veteran recognition ceremony at 2:20 pm
Honor guard detachment of US Marines from Marine Corps Recruiting Station Detroit, and the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 25th Marine Regiment to present 6 historic WWII military flags prior to mass. An original WWII artillery piece to fire in salute of all veterans at 2:30 pm.
Three museum exhibitions from Poland will be premiered, and open for public viewing through the day, alongside a collection of original artwork by Auschwitz survivor Jan Komski. Featured speakers include St. Mary’s Preparatory Headmaster Cormac Lynn, Ed.S., and award winning author and historian Kenneth Koskodan.
America’s only monument to the 1939 invasion of Poland to be unveiled at the historic Galeria building on campus: a 700-lb full-size replica of a border crossing gate broken by German troops on September 1, 1939. Doors open at 12:30 pm. Barbecue lunch served at 2:30 pm. Free benefit concert by the Orchard Lake Philharmonic Orchestra at 5:30 pm.
ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF WWII — Poland was the first nation to fight against Nazi Germany, when it was subjected to the barbaric surprise invasion of 1939. The Polish military and civilians defended Poland against overwhelming Nazi German and Soviet armies until October 6th. From 1939-45, Polish soldiers fought in occupied Poland, and alongside the United States Military and its allies, on all fronts of the European theater of WWII.
