May 3 in Poland has been a special day since 1791; it is the anniversary of the adoption of the constitution on May 3, the anniversary of saving the Republic of Poland – President Andrzej Duda said during the ceremony at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. During the ceremony, he awarded the Order of the White Eagle to historian Antoni Lenkiewicz and writer Antoni Libin-Libera.
At the ceremony at the Royal Castle, the president emphasized that May 3 has been a special day in Poland since 1791 – the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution on May 3.
This is the anniversary of the saving of the Republic of Poland, which was then carried out against all misfortunes by people who were unbreakable patriots who remained with the Republic until the end – because those I mainly mean at this moment – who never turned back did do not change, there were always such alone, always with the same unwavering drive towards Poland and for Poland
– said Duda.
He indicated that May 3 is now also the day on which the president presents the highest state decoration – the Order of the White Eagle.
Today in this hall, during this ceremony, two citizens of the Republic of Poland, two Poles, were distinguished, who certainly, one day, when they are writing their wills, can write: My homeland was controlled by my youth “
– Duda stated, quoting Juliusz Słowacki’s “My Testament”.
And I want to add to that: and not just young people
said the chairman.
The president crowned Antoni Lenkiewicz and Antoni Libin-Libera
On Tuesday, on National Constitution Day of May 3, President Andrzej Duda awarded the Order of the White Eagle – the highest state decoration of the Republic of Poland – to historian Antoni Lenkiewicz and writer Antoni Libin-Libera.
Antoni Lenkiewicz – historian, lawyer, publicist, anti-communist opposition activist, author of several hundred articles on socio-political, legal, philosophical and historical subjects, as well as biographical and monographic books – was awarded the Order of the White Eagle in recognition of his outstanding services to the independence of the Republic of Poland, for his steadfastness in the defense of human rights and freedom of expression in the People’s Republic of Poland, as well as for his involvement in public affairs and loyalty to sovereign Poland.
The Order of the White Eagle was also awarded to Antoni Libin-Libera – a writer, translator, theater director, literary critic, expert on the work of Samuel Beckett, employee of the Workers’ Defense Committee and the Social Self-Defense Committee of the Workers’ Defense Committee.
Antoni Libin-Libera was awarded for his contribution to Polish culture, for outstanding achievements in the field of literary work, in particular for translation achievements and dialogue with European cultural heritage, for his activities in defense of freedom of expression in the People’s Republic of Poland and for his association with the Sovereign Republic of Poland.
The Order of the White Eagle is the Republic of Poland’s oldest and highest award, awarded for major civil and military services to the country. It is awarded to the most prominent Poles and the highest representatives of foreign countries. It is awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland.
President thanked Antoni Lenkiewicz for serving the homeland
President Andrzej Duda thanked historian Antoni Lenkiewicz, who was awarded the Order of the White Eagle. “All along this free and sovereign, independent Poland was invariably in you,” the president said.
The president underlined the merits of Antoni Lenkiewicz and recalled that the historian began his service to the Fatherland at a very difficult time, in the 1940s and 1950s.
He did not come to terms with the Poland he experienced as a young man at the time. When he wanted a real, free, sovereign and independent Poland and with this in mind, seeing the “red scouting”, the perversion of the idea of youth service for the motherland and for its neighbor, he started to create alternative scouting – the Union of Scouts of Fighting Poland, for which he became an 18-year-old boy. Sentenced today to an unimaginable sentence of 12 years in prison by the Stalinist regime
– said Duda.
Later – as he added – Lenkiewicz was imprisoned several more times for service in his homeland – in the 1960s, after his internment in the 1980s and in 1985.
For the steadfast proclamation of a free, independent and sovereign Poland, for the steadfast work on the foundations, for working with workers as part of Solidarity, for lectures for workers, yes, just as President Lech Kaczyński did, because always the same and immutable. You can say today with a smile on your face, although we all know it was not funny that this communist rehabilitation came to nothing, because all this free and sovereign, independent Poland was invariably inside you
– emphasizes the President, addressed to Antoni Lenkiewicz.
For this I thank you, as well as for your participation in the peaceful, slow construction of this Poland regained in 1989 and later for Solidarity, for KPN, for everything in which you have participated calmly and consistently throughout your life. On the one hand research work, deepening the knowledge about Poland and passing on its history, and on the other hand also creative work for Poland, fighting for an independent, sovereign and free Poland that we have today, thank you very much my heart.
– added Andrzej Duda.
Andrzej Duda to Antoni Libin-Libera: You are a pearl of Warsaw’s rebellious intelligentsia
They call you the jewel of the rebellious Warsaw intelligentsia, that’s what it is – President Andrzej Duda said in a speech to Antoni Libin-Libera after being awarded the Order of the White Eagle on Tuesday.
President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday, on the National Constitution Day of May 3, awarded the Order of the White Eagle – the highest state decoration of the Republic of Poland – to historian Antoni Lenkiewicz and writer Antoni Libin-Libera
President Andrzej Duda noted in his speech that, according to the literature, in the apartment of Antoni Libera the workers’ defense committee was established, ie “one of the most important works towards a free Poland”.
Although it was difficult to even consider such a Poland as fully sovereign and independent
– he emphasized.
They often call you the pearl of Warsaw’s rebellious intelligentsia, and it is
– said Duda.
You are, in the highest sense, the Warsaw intelligence, a man who with all his work and life builds the greatness of the Republic of Poland in a very broad sense.
– added the chairman.
As he noted, Libera built this greatness not only through the struggle for independent Poland and respect for human rights, but also through scientific and literary work, introducing the work of great world authors such as Sophocles and Horace.
The president recalled that Libera’s literary idol, Samuel Beckett, called him “his ambassador to this part of Europe and the world.”
Duda thanked the recipient for making the name Poland famous through the plays he wrote and other works Libera “implemented into the canon of Polish and Polish-language literature, that is, the one translated into Polish.”
I want to express my respect and thanks for this work
– underlined the chairman.
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– Prime Minister Morawiecki: The May 3 Constitution went even further than the US, because it excluded slavery
tkwl / PAP / Twitter
Source: wPolityce
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.