On 24 April this year, more than 100 riders drove through Zgierz streets and gathered in Stu Lost Square, where the sixth edition of the Veterans Motorcycle Rally was solemnly started. This rally is not only a road – it is an expression of memory and respect towards those who have given their lives in service outside the state, as well as to their families.
On Thursday, April 24th, more than 100 riders – veterans, soldiers and civilians – began a symbolic tour from the site of the 31st Military economical Branch, headed to Stu Lost Square, where the authoritative beginning ceremony of the 6th edition of the Veterans Motorcycle Rally was held. The event was attended by representatives of local authorities and motorcyclists – veterans and civilians. During the start of the event, the president of the City of Zgierz, commanders of military units and many guests arrived.
– For us as city council This place is peculiar and all the more so, thank you for taking off in this symbolic place, the place of memory. You start by creating a memory of the heroes, of our soldiers, giving them honor and glory, and perpetuating that memory... Thank you very much for organising this event(...) that you are able to carry out a mission that is most crucial to us patriots. – stressed at the beginning of the ceremony – Przemysław Staniszewski, president of the City of Zgierz.
The manager of the Veteran Centre, Lt. Dr. Katarzyna Rałędowska, directed a peculiar letter to the participants of the event, in which she emphasized the importance of the event and its mission - Motorcycle Rally is the minute erstwhile we all pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives serving the Homeland. This event that unites generations, building a bridge between the past and the present... I would like to thank each of you for your participation in this event, for your passion and for your example showing how crucial it is to cultivate patriotic values.
During the event, General Arkadiusz Szkutnik, commander of the 18th Mechanized Division, who is besides a associate in this year's edition of the Rally, besides spoke. He stressed that – It is simply a large honor and honor that I can participate in this rally, among specified wonderful people, due to the fact that it is not without a goat that it is said that motorcyclists are not only people of passion, but they are people who are besides full of dedication. As a biker, as a soldier, as a veteran, I am thrilled that we can meet in this group, where during our conversations there are no grades, no posts, there are just kind people. Many words have been said about our colleagues who are no longer among us - we owe them that. We owe them respect, we owe them support, we owe them memory!
The celebration culminated in the presentation of thanks. peculiar thanks were given to Colonel Marcin Markiewicz of the 9th Łódź Territorial Defence Brigade, who powerfully supported the organisation of the start of the Rally. As an expression of gratitude, he received a hand-made, symbolic clock.
At the end of the authoritative part, a delegation of motorcyclists went to the Roman Catholic Cemetery of St. Anthony "Mania", where a niche was lit on the grave of Major Mark Kaleta – a hero and soldier who devoted his life to serving the Homeland.
We thank all participants for their presence, commitment and joint memory building about those who never stopped serving Poland. We encourage you to follow the social media of the Veteran Center, where we will post reports from the rally.
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The Veterans Motorcycle Rally is simply a task utilizing the interest of soldiers and veterans, employees of the National Defence hotel and officers of another uniformed motorcycle sports formations (many of them are active motorcyclists) to make fresh forms of cooperation beyond service time. During the organized “Veterans Motorcycle Rally”, we commemorate the dead, disseminate cognition about activities outside the country, advance patriotism, advance active forms of leisure time, advance safe driving and encourage joint meetings. The rally takes place in respective stages, on different routes throughout the country. Thanks to this formula, participants are able to commemorate and pay tribute to most of their fallen colleagues during 1 edition.
The Veteran Centre for Activities outside the State Borders in Warsaw is an organizational unit subordinate to the Minister of National Defence. The Centre serves as a centre in which veterans of activities outside the state, and the household of soldiers and military personnel who died during these activities, receive assistance, advice and benefit from legal and intellectual consultations. The Centre shall cooperate actively with the applicable departmental and non-ministerial institutions, NGOs and associations. Thanks to the open nature of the institutions, the Centre besides promotes the integration of veterans' environment around joint ventures and initiatives.
Text: Martyna Wojenko Veteran Center
