On November 11, official celebrations of National Independence Day were held in Warsaw with the participation of President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, the highest state authorities, and the Polish Army. The celebrations were attended by Prof. Gertruda Uścińska, Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School.
Before noon, a Mass for the Homeland was held at the Temple of Divine Providence. President Andrzej Duda lit the Candle of Independence, which was offered to Polish cardinals by Pope Pius IX in 1867, during the canonization ceremony of St. Josaphat Kuncewicz.
The Candle of Independence was lit for the first time by President Andrzej Duda on June 3, 2018. The fire used to light the candle came from a candle burning in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and was carried by scouts in a procession together with the relics of Saint Sister Faustina.
The main celebrations commenced at noon with a formal guard briefing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In accordance with tradition, the commanders of the guards posted by all branches of the Armed Forces and other uniformed services, reported their readiness to stand guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
–“Today we are part of the free world, not only in a cultural sense, as it has been for centuries, but also in a political sense. Today, here on the Vistula, an independent, sovereign Poland and we, the Polish Nation, are part of great international communities: the European Union, but first and foremost part of a major security alliance – the North Atlantic Alliance led by the United States.
The president pointed out that Poland is currently a part of the communities in the creation of which it participated – the Bucharest Nine within NATO and the Three Seas Initiative within the EU.
– “Today, we have no doubt that in order to guarantee the security of Europe and the world, it is necessary to strengthen Euro–Atlantic ties. It goes without saying that if we maintain our strength, if we act responsibly, there will be lasting peace in our part of Europe, we will survive all the historical upheavals and the independent, sovereign Republic of Poland will prevail,” underlined President Andrzej Duda in his speech.
The ceremony of changing the guards was preceded by an Appeal of National Remembrance, which paid tribute to all the heroes who fought for Poland’s independence. During the ceremony, the national flag was raised on the mast, followed by singing of the national anthem and firing of the national salute. The ceremony concluded with the laying of a wreath from the nation on the slab of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a parade of subdivisions.
Orders on the occasion of National Independence Day
At the Belvedere, the President presented national decorations. The Order of the White Eagle – the highest Polish distinction – was awarded to Prof. Ryszard Legutko and Prof. Henryk Skarżyński.
In the evening, the Presidential Palace was illuminated in the national colors and the President, just before departing for Baku for the climate summit, thanked everyone for celebrating together:
– “I would like to thank all Compatriots who took part in celebrations across the country today. I thank thousands of Poles for their presence in Warsaw, for honoring the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where a sea of white-red flags accompanied us and the soldiers present there.”
