Exterior of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, located south of the National Mall, on 14th Street, S.W., in Washington, D.C.: photo - agnosticpreacherskid/Wikicommons
Ninety one-year-old Bartoszewski, who currently serves as a secretary of state in the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, was a member of the Council for Aid to Jews (Żegota) during Nazi occupied Poland.
The Washington Museum says he is being honoured with the Elie Wiesel Award on behalf of all those who rescued Jews from the Holocaust as well as for his prominent role in the development of Polish-Jewish relations.
According to the Polish Embassy in Washington, Mr Bartoszewski will not be able to attend Sunday’s ceremony, where is due to receive the award, due to ill health.
A pre-recorded address to the participants of the ceremony will be shown on video and the award will be collected on his behalf by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski.
The Elie Wiesel Award, named after the Holocaust Museum’s founding chairman and the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize winner, will also be presented to Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, on behalf of all World War II veterans.
The two-day event in Washington (Sunday-Monday) marks the 20th anniversary of the Holocaust Museum and will bring together many Holocaust survivors as well as recipients of the Righteous among the Nations medals for saving Jews. (mk/pg)