Nearly a 1000 young tourism enthusiasts took part in the 64th Palmira Youth Center 2024. Since 1959, the event has been organized by the Polish Tourist and National Society. "Thank you for remembering our past and wanting, through your participation in this unique event, to honor our ancestors together," wrote Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The convention was an chance to meet the PTTK environment, discuss the improvement of tourism and exchange experiences of members of organizations from different parts of the country. “Here in Zlota, past intertwines with adventure, recreation with feat, and joy with nostalgic memories. We'll all take the winding paths that past has gone through. We'll bend over to nameless graves and plaques to honor heroes. We will bow before the natural monuments and monuments of further and closer history" – the organizers wrote in the information material on the convention. Throughout the day, there were, among others, historical and localities competitions or first aid courses. They could besides usage the chance to take a walking tour of Kampinowska Forest and visit the Museum – Palmira Memorial. The event was topped with a solemn appeal, during which the tribute to the victims of German repression, which rests at the Palmira cemetery, as well as soldiers Warsaw Uprising and uprisings in the capital ghetto.
“PTTK Palmira’s gathering gives us the chance to learn about history, discover the beauty of nature, get fresh skills and make lasting, wonderful bonds of friendship,” said Dominika Jarzyńska-Pokojska, Museum manager – Palmira Memorial Site, where the convention took place. Thank you all for coming here to this field of death. It is amazing that we are together again, that we celebrate friendship, adventure, love of past and nature – she added.
The letter to the convention participants was besides directed by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who took over the event with his patronage. It was read by Brig-Gen Artur Kolosowski, manager of the MON Operations Centre. "Palmira is simply a place specifically recorded in the hard past of our country. This is simply a symbol of the crimes committed by German occupiers in Poles. Among the victims of over a year and a half of executions here were many representatives of our political, intellectual and cultural elite [...] Thank you for remembering our past and wanting, through your participation in this unique event, to worship our ancestors together," wrote the Minister of National Defence. – In you, in your youth and the joy of life, there is hope that our Polish forests will never hide specified dark secrets again. That they will delight you with the beauty of nature, and not frighten you with the tragic stories of your peers, who erstwhile were not given to enjoy their youth or to look forward to adulthood," added Gen. Kolosowski.
The Polish Tourist and National Association is the largest national organization dealing with the improvement and dissemination of national studies and qualified tourism in all its forms: mountain, hiking, kayaking, sailing, cycling, motor and ski. It was established in 1950, but dates back to the Tatra Society established in 1873. PTTK presently has almost 70,000 members.
