The guest list included Polish Deputy Defence Minister Maciej Jankowski, Polish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium Artur Harazim, as well as a representative of the King of Belgium, Philippe I.
“Poland had to wait another 45 years for true freedom. It took the persistence of many Poles at home and abroad. It took patience, patriotism and solidarity. Today, we can proudly tell soldiers resting here and the veterans present: your sacrifice was not in vain. Poland is a free and democratic country, a dynamic and committed Member State of the EU, a reliable member of NATO. Your dreams have come true,” Ambassador Harazim said at the ceremony.
The War Cemetery in Lommel is the biggest Polish necropolis in Belgium. It is the resting place of 257 military men, mainly from General Maczek’s First Armoured Division, as well as resistance members and airmen who died fighting to liberate Belgium. After the war, the cemetery has become one of the most important meeting places of Polish immigrants.
The celebrations in Lommel concluded with the “Polish Days in Flanders.” Held from 6 to 28 September 2014, they featured screenings of the award-winning Polish films Ida, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, Walesa: Man of Hope, directed by Andrzej Wajda, as well as documentaries about Polish war veterans living in Belgium. Other highlights were concerts of classical music given by young Polish artists: the cellist Wojciech Fudala, and Mateusz Borowiak, a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition; as well as concerts of modern folk music and organ music.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs RP Press Office
Photo © Tomasz Cibulla/ZBS Studio