Musician Włodzimierz Nahorny, former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Witold Waszczykowski and chairman of the Katyn Committee Andrzej Melak were among those honored by President Andrzej Duda on the occasion of the National Independence Day.
He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta “for outstanding contributions to Polish culture, for achievements in artistic and creative activity, for contribution to the development of jazz music in Poland”. Włodzimierz Nahorny.
The Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta “for outstanding contributions in state and public activities, for involvement in shaping the state's foreign policy” was awarded Witold Waszczykowskiand “for outstanding contributions in cultivating and popularizing Polish cultural heritage” – Welcomes Karol Wojtowicz.
President Andrzej Duda also awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta Wojciech Fałkowski – “for outstanding contributions to Polish culture, for achievements in the preservation and popularization of national heritage, for state and public activity”, Andrzej Melaka – “for outstanding contributions in social activities to preserve the memory of the victims of the Katyn massacre and the Smolensk catastrophe”, as well as Jan Rejczak – “for outstanding contributions to the cause of democratic changes in Poland, for achievements in state and public activities undertaken for the benefit of the country.”
On the occasion of the National Independence Day, President Andrzej Duda also presented the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta Piotr Gawł – “for outstanding contributions in professional work and social activities undertaken for the benefit of the country”, Robert Kostro – “for outstanding contributions in perpetuating historical memory, for special involvement in the creation of the Polish History Museum”, and also Bogusław Machalinski – “for outstanding merits in scientific research and teaching, for achievements in activities for the development of medicine”, Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy – “for outstanding contributions to the development of independent journalism and free media, for achievements in promoting democratic values and contribution to building a civil society” and Tadeusz Wolsza – “for outstanding merits in scientific, research and teaching work, for achievements in documenting and commemorating the truth about the modern history of Poland” and Andrzej Zieliński – “for outstanding contributions to Polish culture, for achievements in artistic and creative work.”
President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda during the ceremony of awarding state awards PAP/Piotr Nowak
They were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta “for outstanding contributions in professional work and social activities undertaken for the benefit of the country” Andrzej Kozłowski and Wojciech Strzałkowski. They also received this distinction Jerzy Kwieciński – “for outstanding contributions to shaping Poland's energy security” and Antoni Wręga – “for outstanding contributions to the cause of democratic changes in Poland.”
Andrzej Duda “for outstanding contributions to the Polish community in Chicago” was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland Hubert Cioromski and Mariusz Mikoda.
Awarded by the President of the Republic of PolandPAP/Piotr Nowak
Prof. Ryszard Legutko he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle “in recognition of outstanding services to the Republic of Poland, for achievements in scientific activity, for commitment to shaping civil society and public activities.”
Legutko is a full professor at the Jagiellonian University. He is also the author of books on socio-political topics, translator and commentator of Plato's works.
In 2005–2007 he was a senator and deputy speaker of the Senate of the 6th term, in 2007 – Minister of National Education in the government of Jarosław Kaczyński, in 2007–2009 secretary of state in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. He was a member of the European Parliament of the 7th, 8th and 9th terms, running on the Law and Justice list.
Legutko is the author of such books as, among others: “Without anger and prejudice. Sketches about books, people and ideas” (1989), for which he received the PEN Club Award, “Absolute Ethics and Open Society” (1994), awarded with the Andrzej Kijowski, “Tolerance. A thing about a strict state, the law of nature, love and conscience” (1997), for which the author was awarded the Award of the Minister of National Education, “Esej o polskiej soul” (2008), “Triumf of the common man” (2012) or “Socrates. The Philosophy of a Just Man” (2013), for which he was awarded the Literary Award. Józef Mackiewicz. In the past, he was honored with, among others: the Gold Medal of Merit for Polish Science Sapientia et Veritas, the Portuguese Grand Cross of the Order of Merit or the Honorary Award of Lech Kaczyński.
He was also awarded the Order of the White Eagle “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of Polish medicine, in particular for people with interpersonal communication disorders, for achievements in scientific, clinical, teaching and organizational activities and for popularizing Polish scientific thought in the world.” prof. Henryk Skarżyński – one of the most famous otolaryngologists, audiologists and phoniatricians in the world. Creator and director of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the World Hearing Center in Kajetany.
It was Skarżyński who initiated the implantation of hearing implants in Poland. In 1992, he implanted a cochlear implant in an adult with complete deafness. It was the first such procedure in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.
On July 14, 1993, in Ochota in Warsaw, he established the Diagnostic, Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People “Cochler Center”. It was the first center in Poland and the second in Europe dealing with comprehensive treatment of hearing impairments. On this basis, the World Hearing Center was established in Kajety near Warsaw in 2012, the only such facility in the world.
Prof. Skarżyński is the author and co-author of over 4,536 scientific papers and approximately 3,900 scientific presentations, the supervisor of several dozen doctoral theses and the supervisor of several habilitation theses; member of global scientific societies. Corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
He is the author and co-author of 14 patents for devices and methods related to medical technology, including: systems and devices for screening hearing, vision and speech, and a device for correcting speech defects. Since 2011, he has been a National Consultant in the field of Otorhinolaryngology. From 2022, he chairs the Main Council of Research Institutes.
The Order of the White Eagle is the highest order of the Republic of Poland, established in 1705 and reactivated in 1921. It is awarded for outstanding civil and military services to the Republic of Poland, both in peace and war, to the most outstanding Poles and the highest-ranking representatives of foreign countries.
Main photo source: PAP/Piotr Nowak