After 123 of uninterrupted years in which the Polish territories were under various foreign occupations, (Austria-Hungary, Prussia, Russia), 11 November 1918 brought not only the end of the first world war but also the reappearance of Poland on the map of Europe. Poland's Independence Day is known as Narodowe Święto Niepodległości (The national holiday of Independence) sau… pe scurt Independence Day (Independence day) and is closely related to Brigadier General Józef Piłsudski, founder of the Polish Legion. Still at 11 November two candles were lit – one in the Temple of Divine Providence, and the other – on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These candles symbolize where the regaining of independence came from.
The historic candle, offered to the Polish bishops by the Holy Father in 1867, when Poland was not on the map, with the desire to burn in free Poland, it means the strength of our tradition, based on the Christian faith and the strength of the Plonese culture anchored in traditions, carried over generations, passed on to children and grandchildren.
Even if it happened gradually, we owe the process of regaining freedom to ourselves. Not only a coincidence of events and historical circumstances, of a miracle or care of providence, but our courage, our tenacity and deep faith made Poland back on the Map of Europe and declare our independence.
The peace and well-being we are experiencing now is primarily due to human sacrifices, of an unknown soldier, whose body has never been identified or found and which must be preserved in individual and collective memory.
Patriotism is not just a vision of how Poland should be in the future, about its development, about historical memory, but it is a strong feeling of each individual directed to the honor of the sacrificed heroes, let our thoughts and hearts be guided towards our soldiers who, then as now, guard the security of our homeland. The traditions, faith, our culture was built even when the Poles were punished, imprisoned or killed for it. Nothing destroyed us. We were not destroyed by wars, partitions did not destroy us, we were not destroyed by the times when Poland was not on the map.
We must always defend the motherland. Not with a gun in hand, but we must guard its borders, especially now , in the situation given by the war in Ukraine, guarding the security of Poland and the security of Europe respectively. Let's fulfill our commitments by showing that we are a serious nation that understands what freedom means, but he also understands what it means to be strong.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY POLAND!
