Veterans break the barriers together

What did you spend that money on?

Part for rehabilitation tours, and part for the acquisition of rehabilitation equipment that we gave to the needy soldiers. These included electrical bicycles, scooters with electrical aid, electrostimulators, lymph drainage machines, inhalers. We leave any funds in the account due to the fact that we want to search backing for our projects from the MON, and then we gotta declare that we have at least 10 percent of the cost of a project. However, we effort to make it a twelve percent, due to the fact that points are awarded for a higher own contribution.

In the association's plan for 2026, you have written down respective different projects. Like what?

In addition to this carnival ball, we have a sports and integration event in the plan, which will be accompanied by shooting competitions specified as the “Veterinary Shot” or “March with a veteran”, which connects sports rehabilitation effort. However, our main concern is rehabilitation tours, which affect soldiers injured on missions and the parents of fallen soldiers. Equally crucial are intellectual and therapeutic workshops "Together easier" that aid veterans, their wives, and parents of fallen soldiers overcome the stress of the mission. For these projects we are trying to get backing from the MON.

We are besides taking part in global projects that are athletics and integration, specified as the march "Scotland Cateran Yomp“ during which veterans who are injured, depending on their wellness status, cross a distance of 36, 50 or 90 km within 24 hours. A akin event is the Washington Yomp march in the US, during which you gotta go within a day 40, 60 or 90 km. We request to find a sponsor for these projects.

How do you get backing for specified projects?

We are supported by 1 of the American and South Korean companies, as well as the Kulski Foundation, which promotes Polish-American cooperation. We can besides number on companies associated with the Polish Armed Forces Group and private companies. We would like Polish defence companies to be more liable in their social activity for supporting injured veterans.

You besides invitation soldiers from allied armies stationed in our country...

We have a lot in common. We shared in missions. During the marches together, we face challenges to break the physical barriers associated with the injuries. This year we want to repeat “Warrior Week Poland” in Sokołowski, where we met veterans from the USA, large Britain, Lithuania, Germany and Ukraine. There was joint rehabilitation, visiting the Academy of Land Forces in Wrocław, playing volleyball, boules, chess or archery shooting. specified efforts brought us closer together. If our business partner accepts our plan, the second edition of this event will be held this year.

Speaking of joint initiatives, while quite a few emotion was raised by the words of president Donald Trump that allies on missions "were far from the front line". How did Polish veterans and their colleagues from the US Army respond to them?

Our American colleagues were embarrassed by the words of their president, while we were shocked. We, from our first days on missions together with United States Army soldiers, have carried out tasks in certain zones. We were exposed to the same dangers as our allies in the United States. I wanted to stress that not only do shrapnel hurt a soldier, but besides words.

Less than 2 weeks after this speech, president Trump decided to grant Sergeant Staff. Michael Ollis Medal of Honor – the highest American military honour. Let us remind that during the attack on the base in Ghazni, Afghanistan, the sergeant rescued the injured Polish captain Karol Suffering, covering him with his own body erstwhile the suicide bomber detonated an explosive device from them.

This decision by president Trump confirms that during the mission to Afghanistan Polish soldiers fought side by side with the American on the first line. Poles appreciated the actions of Michael Ollis as early as 2013, giving him the Polish Army Gold Medal.

The Association besides wants to scope out to past and remind about Polish soldiers who were buried in the fight for the liberation of Poland. What makes you think that?

We think that as veterans injured in operations outside the country, we should cultivate the memory of heroes fighting for the freedom of Poland who did not return home. so For respective years we have been organizing a patriotic and historical trip "Tradition and memory – in tribute to the fallen Polish soldiers on Italian soil". Following the 2nd Polish Corps General Władysław Anders, we visit 4 Polish war cemeteries in Italy, with military honors paying tribute to the fallen. We fold flowers, light candles, meet with representatives of the Polonia. This year we besides want to visit the port of Taranto in the south of the Italian peninsula, where soldiers of the 2nd Corps landed in late 1943. We were amazed how many people in Italy tend to remember Polish soldiers. We are in contact with the daughter of 1 of the 2nd Corps soldiers who lives in Loreto, as well as with Italian-Polish associations in Casamassima and Loreto. We besides intend to make contact with Italian army veterans who participated in missions.