President wants new state honour to commemorate centenary of independence
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
04.05.2018 16:24
The Polish president wants a new state distinction to honour people who helped his country regain or strengthen its independence as the country marks 100 years since returning to the map of Europe.
Photo: Krzysztof Sitkowski/KPRP
President Andrzej Duda on Friday sent a bill to instate the Centenary of Regained Independence Medal to the Polish parliament for review.
The medal is to be given to veterans, people who helped Poland's transformation from a communist state to a democracy, successful businesspeople and scientists, as well as members of parliament and senators, state and local government officials and people from the non-profit sector.
The medal is to feature the Polish national symbol of a crowned eagle and a banner with the inscription Polonia Rediviva or "Poland reborn" on one side and the letters RP – which stand for Republic of Poland – and the years 1918 and 2018 on the other.
Its name refers to the Decade of Regained Independence Medal, which was awarded for exceptional military or state service in the ten years to November 11, 1928.
On November 11, 2018, Poland will mark 100 years since statesman Józef Piłsudski arrived in Warsaw to announce the country's independence after more than 120 years of partitions and foreign rule. (vb)
Source: Prezydent.pl