Veteran Centre officially opened in Warsaw
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
21.12.2014 13:32
Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz took part in the official opening ceremony of the International Mission Veteran Centre, which is set to provide support for military personnel who have served abroad.
Visualisation of the Veteran Centre. Image: centrum-weterana.mon.gov.pl
The centre is also to popularise Poland’s international military efforts, increase awareness of Polish rotations as well as foster the memory of injured and killed servicemen and women while on missions abroad.
“We are proud of you, Poland is proud of you,” said Kopacz, adding that “you are serving Poland, but in reality you are serving the free world, a world where values such as dignity, human rights, freedom and sovereignty are worth fighting for, sometimes paying the highest price.”
Following the ceremony PM Kopacz met with veterans and their families to share the oplatek Christmas wafer.
The opening of the Veteran Centre falls on the third anniversary of the most tragic incident in the history of Polish international missions, when five Polish soldiers were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.
Since the 1950s, around 100,000 Polish personnel have been sent on international missions. Currently, around 11,500 Polish servicemen and women hold ‘veteran’ status. (jb)
Source: IAR/PAP