– A great celebration of all Poles, of all of us. Because patriotism is for everyone. Not for the chosen ones, not for one option, one group or one environment. It is ours – emphasized on Sunday morning Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during a press briefing accompanying the dress rehearsal of the parade on the occasion of Polish Armed Forces Day.
As the minister said, it is to be a “community parade”. – Just as we have been together for 25 years in the North Atlantic Alliance. Just as we have been together in the European Union. Just as Poland, together with allied forces in 1920, defended Europe and the world from death, destruction and the Bolshevik onslaught. Let us show unity and national community on 15 August – he appealed.
2.5 thousand soldiers
The Deputy Prime Minister reminded that patriotic and military ceremonies will be held everywhere in Poland on this day. – I would especially like to invite you to Warsaw at 2 p.m. for the ceremonial parade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and our allies. 2.5 thousand soldiers will take part in them: about a thousand soldiers in formation, 23 subunits, all types of armed forces, cadets from military academies, there will be over 90 banners displayed by military units – Kosiniak-Kamysz enumerated.
He added that in addition, our allies from the United States, Great Britain, Romania will be present. Over 200 vehicles and about 20 aircraft will be presented. – It will be a great event. Gratitude also to all those who before us carried the banner of independence, freedom and justice – announced the deputy prime minister.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also assessed that the parade aroused great interest. The youngest appeared on Sunday at 6 a.m. to watch the parade rehearsal.
Parade in Warsaw
The parade will begin on Thursday, August 15, at 2 p.m. In addition to soldiers from all branches of the military, it will be attended by almost 100 soldiers from allied forces and structures: from the United States, Great Britain and Romania, as well as representatives of the Eurocorps and the NATO Joint Force Training Centre. They will be accompanied by almost 80 aircraft, as well as 220 pieces of ground equipment, including Abrams tanks, Rosomak and Borsuk transporters, Krab and K9 gun-howitzers, Himars rocket launchers and Patriot and Mała Narew anti-aircraft systems. Just like last year, the soldiers will march along Warsaw's Wisłostrada; a convenient observation point will be, for example, the slope at the square of the 1st Armoured Division of the Polish Army at the height of Nowe Miasto.
Polish Army Day, celebrated on August 15, commemorates the victorious Battle of Warsaw in 1920, when the troops of the reborn Polish state, in a series of victorious operations, pushed the Red Army advancing from the east away from Warsaw.
Main image source: PAP/Radek Parsley