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Polish Airmen's Association asks Newark Town Council to include its nation's emblem in mayoral chain as sign of forever friendship




Poles in the UK have asked for their nation’s emblem to be added to the chain of office of the Mayor of Newark as a symbol of enduring friendship.

Newark Town Council’s finance and general purposes committee is due to debate the request tonight (Wednesday).

Arter Bildziuk, the chairman of the Polish Airmen's Association, told the Advertiser the addition of the eagle would be a fitting way of cementing a bond forever more.

The Newark Mayor's chain of office. (59942788)
The Newark Mayor's chain of office. (59942788)

Mayors in other places of the UK that have strong connections with Poland, Hillingdon, near Northolt, and Wandsworth, already have eagles on their chains. And Newark would be in significant company with negotiations being held with Westminster where there are memorials to Polish wartime contributions in Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s.

“As an organisation we view Newark as the most important place in the UK to have an association with Poland,” said Mr Bildziuk.

General view of Newark Town Hall and Market Place. 130819TV4-1. (15173275)
General view of Newark Town Hall and Market Place. 130819TV4-1. (15173275)

“It is not just where our past presidents in exile chose to be buried, but where hundreds of airmen, paratroopers and army are buried too.

“Poles died not just die for themselves, but for the freedom of all and with that there is a sense of pride.

“It is a place where many who remained after the war chose to be buried among their friends. People who couldn’t return to Poland because they would have been ‘disappeared’ from the streets by the Soviets just as we witness from Russia in Ukraine today.

The Polish War Grave are adorned with lit laterns in rememberance for each fallen soldier 271019PN8-1. (20291269)
The Polish War Grave are adorned with lit laterns in rememberance for each fallen soldier 271019PN8-1. (20291269)

“It is more than just graves. The hearts of the young are always filled with romanticism. Our days can be short but are friendships are everlasting.

“Poles amalgamated themselves into UK life, none more so than in Newark. The relationship is to be admired. Before our independence in 1989, it was almost a pilgrimage for Poles to go to Newark. Three coaches would come from London for the All Souls’ Day Service in the cemetery.

“This request fits the scenario of bringing people together. We are thinking of community; the thought process of togetherness.

“In many ways it seems crazy that we did not start with these requests in Newark.

Newark Cemetery has the largest Polish plot of any cemetery in Britain with 440 servicemen from that nation.

The three presidents in exile are to be exhumed and returned to Poland next month. Commander of Polish forces during the second world war, General Władysław Sikorski, was exhumed and repatriated in 1993 and there are plans for a statue of him to be added to the plot.

The town council actively promotes and supports the annual Air Bridge and All Souls’ commemoration services in the cemetery.

Newark has a statue of Polish humanitarian aid worker Irena Sendler, who saved hundreds of Jewish children, and a Polish twin town, Sandomierz.



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