President Karol Nawrocki on 31 August 2026 participated in the Gdańsk Shipyard's OSH Hall in celebration of the 46th anniversary of the August Agreements and the establishment of the NSZZ “Solidarity”. He decorated Krzysztof Wyszkowski with the Order of the White Eagle. The ceremony reminded that Polish freedom grew out of the courage of workers, community and opposition to Moscow's subordinate power.
The highest discrimination for Krzysztof Wyszkowski
The central minute of the ceremony in the historical OSH area was handing to Krzysztof Wyszkowski Order of the White Eagle. This is the highest Polish state award. The president honored a man who was among the building independent labour movement even before the large strike of August 1980.
Wyszkowski was co-founder of the Free Trade Unions of the Coast in 1978, co-founded their declaration and organized the magazine “The Coast Workers”. The Biography of the Institute of National Memory besides reminds of its publishing activity and cooperation with opposition environments. The Order presented in Gdańsk Shipyard is linked to the individual courage of the activist with the state memory of the way to freedom.
Solidarity as Regained Courage
Karol Nawrocki said that “Solidarity” was a movement of regained civilian courage, which Poland needed today. He pointed to people who were faithful to values, but besides reminded of those representatives of the communist apparatus who remained loyal to Moscow and the interest of the PZPR. According to PAP's report, the president estimated that akin reasoning inactive exists in crucial positions in the state.
These words must be read through the experience of August. Workers did not wait for freedom to come from abroad in a ready package. They organized a strike, formulated demands and forced communist power to agree to independent trade unions. Poles regained their subjectivity by their own efforts, in a community capable of crossing the company's and environmental divisions.
Gate 2 and community memory
Anniversary events were besides held outside Gate 2 of Gdańsk Shipyard. It was symbolically opened and decorated with flowers. The Office for Combatants and Represented Persons reported that they were attended by witnesses of history, erstwhile opponents, signatories to agreements, representatives of authorities and residents of the city. It was before this gate that the end of the strike was announced on 31 August 1980 and the signing of the Gdańsk Agreement.
The first Solidarity had nearly 10 million members. Her strength came from the mass participation of Poles, but besides from a simple moral order: the fact mattered, the work deserved dignity, and the nation had the right to organize itself outside the control of the party. This heritage must not be reduced to a dispute over the name or decoration utilized erstwhile a year.
Anniversary divided, common lesson
This year's celebrations had various programmes and took place with separate environments. Lech Wałęsa and Karol Nawrocki participated in 2 separate anniversary orders. This division is simply a fact, but it cannot obscure the people who risked their jobs, freedom and safety of families in clash with the PRL camera.
The stakes for Poland stay valid. A nation that remembers that freedom has won its own courage is harder to convince to give sovereignty in the name of another people's political projects. The president is obliged to remind of the continuity of the state and honor those whose merits have been pushed to the background over the years. The Order for Krzysztof Wyszkowski serves this work well. The memory of August is expected to lead to work for Poland today, not to an empty ritual.
Source: Office of the president of Poland, Office for Combatants and Represented Persons, Radio Maryja
Source: Radio Maryja
