Polish Radio reenacts historic events to commemorate former US leader
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
04.02.2018 08:30
Public broadcaster Polish Radio has helped stage a historic reenactment in Warsaw to commemorate former US President Thomas Woodrow Wilson for his role in championing Poland's independence a century ago.
Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
The project featured a parade of period horse-drawn carriages through the streets of the Polish capital on Saturday, combined with a reenactment of a scene in which the American leader met with the Polish president at the time, Ignacy Mościcki, and pianist-turned-statesman Ignacy Paderewski.
A crowd of local residents as well as tourists, both Polish and foreign, joined the reenactment at the Polish capital’s landmark Castle Square, Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
As it made its way to Castle Square from the city’s iconic Royal Łazienki Park, the "carriagecade" symbolically stopped in front of the US embassy to pick up American diplomats.
Polish Radio Vice-President Mariusz Staniszewski told those gathered that the broadcaster would provide extensive coverage of commemorations of the 100th anniversary of Polish independence this year.
Polish Radio was founded 93 years ago and has borne witness to the history of an independent Polish state down the decades, Staniszewski said.
A hundred years ago, President Wilson made his famous “Fourteen Points” address to Congress, calling for Poland’s independence.
Point 13 spoke of the need to establish an independent Polish state, “which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish population, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.”
Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.
America was the first country to recognise Poland’s independence after World War I. In 1919, President Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and in 1922 Poland conferred upon him its highest state distinction, the Order of the White Eagle.
The US embassy in December launched celebrations of the centennials of Poland regaining independence and the establishment of US-Polish diplomatic relations.
Last year marked the Year of Woodrow Wilson in the Polish capital.
(gs/pk)
Source: IAR