Posted: Monday, January 21, 2013
KOSCIUSZKO CHAIRPublication Date: January 21, 2013Ava and Adam Bak, long-time supporters and donors of IWP and its Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies, have facilitated the shipment of a statue of President Ronald Reagan and John Paul II to the United States. It is a smaller copy of the original monument unveiled in Gdansk, Poland-the birthplace of the anti-communist Solidarity movement-in July 2012.
Ronald Reagan was honored by the Poles for his staunch support of the Polish struggle for freedom and independence, in which he cooperated closely with Pope John Paul II (in addition to British prime minister Margaret Thatcher). The Gdansk statue commemorated the two leaders' meeting in Miami in September 1987.
The statue will be presented to President Reagan's son, Mr. Michael Reagan. Thus, Mr. and Mrs. Bak have been part of a larger effort by IWP's Kosciuszko Chair to have the statue unveiled and to connect the Reagan family with the organizers in Poland, Solidarity's Dignity (Godnosc) Foundation (President: Mr. Czeslaw Nowak; Vice President: Andrzej Osipów).
An identical statue was transported with great care by Mr. Witold Chodakiewicz and Mrs. Agnieszka Chodakiewicz, who presented it to Dr. John Lenczowski during IWP's staff Christmas Party on December 19, 2012.
Above: Mr. Witold Chodakiewicz discusses the significance of the statue at IWP.
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