The Kazimierz Pulaski Museum in Warka invites to a fresh exhibition entitled “PUŁASKI 272. 25 years of Poland in NATO”. This time the main character of the museum exhibition will be 1 of the most celebrated ships of the Polish Navy – the ORP rocket frigate "Gen. K. Pulaski" with the side number 272 which has guarded Polish interests on various seas of the planet for almost 25 years.
With Poland's accession to NATO, the U.S. government gave the Polish Navy a rocket frigate of the kind Oliver Hazard Perry named USS Clark (FFG-11). The Polish flag was raised on a ship on 15 March 2000 at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Representatives of the U.S. and Polish authorities and fleets, as well as many Polish combatants, took part in the surrender ceremony. After training frigate crew at tactical number 272 sailed to Poland on 7 June 2000. She defeated the Atlantic in 10 days and was already solemnly welcomed in Gdynia on June 17.
The ship received the name “ORP Gen. K. Pulaski” and became 1 of the symbols of military cooperation between Poland and the USA. The solemn baptism of the frigate took place on 25 June 2000 in Kościuszko Square, Gdynia. The godmother of the unit was the wife of the then Polish Prime Minister Ludgard Buzek. The ceremony was attended by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek. The “Pułaski” baptism was besides attended by a delegation of Varka headed by the then mayor Marian Górski, with representatives of the Kazimierz Pulaski Museum in Warka, a delegation of the K. Pulaski Public Primary School No. 2 and the Varka Brewery.
In specified circumstances, since the beginning of the presence in the Polish armed forces, the ship has established cooperation with the museum, which is besides sponsored by Kazimierz Pulaski. The consequence of this cooperation is not only common visits to ceremonies and events, but above all the education of young people. Since 2006 the museum and command of the ship has organized the Historical and Maritime Competition “Two Faces of Pulaski” for advanced school students (initially Wartki and powiat) – now voivodship. Over the years, the competition has become recognizable and gained a advanced rank, attracts youth from the territory of all Mazovia. 1 of the winners of the competition "Two Faces of Pulaski" finished his studies at the Naval Academy and as an officer in the rank of a naval lieutenant, took up service in the structures of the 3rd Fleet Ship.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Poland in NATO and the 25th anniversary of a ship under the Polish flag, a temporary exhibition about the service of the frigate in the Polish Navy on many seas in the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance will be opened just before Christmas. The exposition is prepared in modern arrangement. The Museum in Warka will present photographs on it, but besides many first objects and souvenirs from the ship. The exhibition will be accompanied by a peculiar educational program. The honorary patronage over the event was taken by the Minister of National Defence. The beginning on December 17th, and the Museum is invited to visit from December 18th, 2024. Exhibition open until 4 May 2025.
Inf. K. Pulaski Museum
The exhibition was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and Grójecki County.
Curators of the exhibition: Iwona Stefaniak, Karol Kucharski
Organizer: Kazimierz Pulaski Museum in Warka
Partner: ORP "Gen. K Pulaski"
Honorary patronage:
Minister of Defence – Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Starost Grójecki
Mayor of Varki
Media patronage:
Poland Armed History
Maritime portal
Echo Day
Radio Plus Radom
