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Polish President Bronisław Komorowski and First Lady in New York

September 26, 2011

During his three-day visit in New York City, on Thursday, September 22nd, President Bronisław Komorowski opened trading at the New York Stock Exchange. The President’s busy day continued with a visit to the New York City Fire Museum where he had a meeting with the firefighters and policemen of Polish origin who took part in the rescue action after the terrorist attack on September 11 2001.

Some Polish survivors and the relatives of the WTC attack victims were also present. After laying flowers at a memorial to the 343 members of FDNY-EMS who made the Supreme Sacrifice on September 11, 2001, President Komorowski talked with the survivors, firefighters and the victims’ families. Later during the day, the President addressed the UN General Assembly calling in his speech for solidarity among nations.

In the evening, President Komorowski and the First Lady, Anna Komorowska, were guests of the Polish Consulate. During a meeting with the Polish-American community, the President bestowed state decorations on 27 distinguished persons.
The medals were presented to those who rendered great service to the Polish-American cooperation in science, culture, business and politics, as well as their contribution to the Polish-Jewish dialogue.

Among the decorated were: Wojciech Wołyński awarded with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, Józef Pindela Emisarski –awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (posthumously), Professor Piotr Chełkowski and Professor John Micgiel - the Commander’s Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, Dr David Marvell, Dr David Brożyna, dr Krzysztof Palczewski, Jerzy Włodarczyk, John Darnton, Stanisław Trojanowski, Luna Kaufman- awarded the Knight’s Crosses of the Order of Merit, Andrzej Wasilewicz and Dariusz Knapik – awarded Gold Crosses of Merit, Reverend Thomas Machalski, Alex Storożyński, Piotr Chomczyński, Professor Antony Polonsky – awarded the Officer’s Crosses of the Order of Merit.

Last but not least, the final part of the ceremony was the repatriation ceremony of two paintings by Julian Fałat, who had been looted from Poland 67 years ago. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Home Security Investigations, the artworks could be handed back to their rightful owners – the Republic of Poland. Recognizing the contribution of two US ICE officers in recovering the two pieces, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Mr. Bogdan Zdrojewski, awarded Mrs. Bonnie Goldblatt and Mr. Louis Barrois with the Honorary Badge for Merits to Polish Culture.

www.polishconsulateny.org