{"id":2053,"date":"2017-09-18T08:45:21","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T06:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.driel-polen.nl\/?page_id=2053"},"modified":"2021-01-12T14:59:10","modified_gmt":"2021-01-12T13:59:10","slug":"voorzitter-stichting-driel-polen","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.driel-polen.nl\/en\/herdenkingen\/herdenkingen-2015-2024\/voorzitter-stichting-driel-polen\/","title":{"rendered":"2017 Chairman of the Foundation Driel-Polen, Mr. A.J.M. Baltussen"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Address by the Chairman of the Foundation Driel-Polen,
\nMr. A.J.M. Baltussen,
\nat the Commemoration of the contribution of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Operation Market Garden, 73 years ago<\/span>
\nDriel, 16 September 2017<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Panie i Panowie,<\/strong><\/em>
\n Ladies & Gentlemen,<\/strong><\/em>
\n Dames & Heren<\/strong><\/em>
\nOn behalf of the Driel-Polen Foundation I would like to welcome you all to this commemoration, where we give special attention to the contribution of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Operation Market Garden – 73 years ago.<\/p>\n

A special word of welcome to<\/p>\n

The 5 Polish Veterans, who could make the way to Driel from their home in Great Britain, Canada and the USA Mr. Kubi\u0144ski,
\nMr Opalacz, Mr. Staszkiewicz , Mr. Wojciechowski and
\nMr. Ziolowski.
\nAnd Mrs. Nawrocka a previous member of the Armia Krakowia and widow of a member of the Brigade.
\nAlso to the other widows of Polish veterans living in the UK and the Netherlands.
\nThe Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in the Kingdom of the Netherlands His Excellency Professor Czepelak and Mrs. Czepelak
\nThe Ambassadors of Great Britain His Excellency Mr. Wilson and from Canada Her Excellency Mrs. N\u00f6lke and the charg\u00e9 d\u2019\u00e1ffaires from the United States of America Mr. Crowley.
\nThe King\u2019s Commissioner of our province Mr. Cornielje
\nCommander of the 6th Airborne Brigade, Brigade General Ha\u0142upka and other members from this Brigade
\nLt. Gen. Sir Lorimer, Lady Lorimer and other members of the Para Regiment and
\nBrigade General Smits and Mrs. Smits on behalf of the Commander of the Dutch Armed Forces
\nThe Burgomaster of this municipality Mr. Van Asseldonk and his partner Mr. Diepeveen
\nThe representatives of the Sosabowski family Mr. Jeremy Sosabowski and his partner Bettina Beinhoff and Mrs. Tomczyk Sosabowska
\nThe representative of the British veterans Staff Sgt. Laurie Weeden
\nThe Burgomasters of the partner municipalities of Overbetuwe
\nFrom Germany Mr. Wernard representing Usingen and Mr. H\u00fcrtgen representing Z\u00fclpich
\nFrom Poland the representative of the burgomaster from Boleszkowice Mr. Bukiel.
\nThe marshal of Lubielski, Mr. Sosnowski and the members of his delegation.
\nProfessor Wawer, historian specialised in the history of the Polish Armed Forces in the West during WW2 and director of the Royal \u0141azienki Museum in Warsaw
\nand
\nthe director of the Polish Army Museum Mr. Adam Bu\u0142awa and his colleague Mrs. Anna Popielarczyk-Pa\u0142\u0119ga
\nAll the British veterans present this afternoon<\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/strong><\/em>
\nWe wish you a warm welcome this afternoon when we remember the contribution of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Operation Market Garden 73 years ago.<\/p>\n

A year ago we had contact with nearly 50 veterans worldwide who were members of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade and who had taken part in Operation Market Garden. Now there are just 40 veterans who are still alive. Given the fact that they are over 90 years old this is to be expected.<\/p>\n

I would like to mention one of the veterans who passed away this year. On 31 January 2017 Alfons Victor Mackowiak – also well known as Alan Mack – passed away. He was 100 years old. On 18 September 1944 he landed in a glider near Wolfheze, was active in the struggle in and around Oosterbeek, was wounded by the Oude Kerk \u2013 Old Church and brought the last months of the war as a prisoner of war in Camp Spangenberg. During the war he held the rank of Captain.
\nAfter 1947, in England, he contributed as a highly respected and valued sports instructor to amongst others the skills of Olympic athletes. In the course of his life he was promoted to Colonel. After his death President Andrzej Duda promoted him to the rank of Brigadier General. Next week Saturday the urn with his ashes will be laid to rest in Warsaw\u2019s military graveyard.<\/p>\n

He will be in our thoughts this afternoon together with the other veterans who passed away since last year\u2019s commemoration.<\/p>\n

Because this year is not a quinquennium you might think that in addition to the 2017 remembrance ceremony and a visit to our information centre there are no other special activities. Nothing could be further from the truth.
\nOne hundred and twenty five years ago on 8 May 1892 General Stanislaw Sosabowski was born. On 8 May, Poland celebrates the name day of Saint Stanislaw. Every reason not to let this day go unrecognized. Therefore, on 8 May here on this square the General Stanislaw Sosabowski tulip was christened.<\/p>\n

Another special event that I would like to draw your attention to is the unveiling of a bust of General Sosabowski in Warsaw next week Saturday. The statue has been created by the Dutch sculptor Martin Abspoel and was acquired by the Dutch Embassy in Poland in 2014. It will come to stand in a square in Warsaw where – in 2018 – the new Polish Army museum will be established.<\/p>\n

Next week Thursday in Krakow the annual commemoration of the setting up of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade on 23 September 1941 will be celebrated. On Friday the board of Stichting Driel-Polen will also attend the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Polish Army Parachutists and that 80 years ago for the first time Polish soldiers used parachutes.<\/p>\n

Girls and boys in the choir. It is fantastic that you – as a group – are here today to sing and together with the members of the Promyki Krakowa orchestra lay flowers. We also offer a warm welcome to the young members of the football club who are dressed in their team\u2019s colours – colours representative of the Polish flag – and which carry the emblem of a parachutist. We very much appreciate that later this afternoon you will also be involved in the wreath laying ceremony.<\/p>\n

We remember we know it was Polish parachutists who – 73 years ago – in Driel not far from here landed with their parachutes to fight for our parents, grand-parents and great grand-parents against the enemy that had captured our country. By doing so they contributed to the freedom that we experience today.<\/p>\n

Remembrance is important to ensure that we continue to be aware that freedom didn\u2019t just come to us. We should be aware that others committed themselves and continue to commit themselves to our freedom even at the risk of their own lives. In the past but also today.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the war Polish parachutist together with others fled or was driven out of their country. Via complex routes they eventually came together in Scotland. There on 23 September 1941 they set up their Brigade.<\/p>\n

For us all \u2013 but certainly for these five veterans \u2013 it is very significant and special that you, accompanied by peers from Poland, will sing two songs in Polish. Also the contribution of the football club is very much appreciated.<\/p>\n

Wishing you success this afternoon!!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Address by the Chairman of the Foundation Driel-Polen, Mr. A.J.M. Baltussen, at the Commemoration of the contribution of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Operation Market Garden, 73 years ago Driel, 16 September 2017 Panie i Panowie, Ladies & …<\/span> <\/p>\n

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