Michal Mrozek, Maciej Wierzynski, Wanda Urbanska and Christopher Ossowski
A commemoration of Jan Karski's treacherous journey during World War II to London to inform British leaders of the terrors of occupied Poland was held at Georgetown University’s 2013 John Carroll Weekend. Georgetown alumnus and former Karski student Bob Billingsley noted that “Georgetown’s purpose with the Centennial is not to create a celebrity but to teach and inspire young people like Professor Karski did for 40 years.”
Jan Karski Foundation President Wanda Urbanska then spoke about the different events celebrating Karski that have been held, and the Foundation’s plans for the centennial of his birth in 2014. Since the Foundation is focused on awareness and education, materials such as a teaching curricula and a traveling exhibit have been prepared. She finished by challenging the gathered Hoyas to “open yourself to Karski karma and to join with us in our efforts to make profound and meaningful change in this world in Karski’s name.”
Noted Polish journalist Maciej Wierzyński was a neighbor and friend of Karski in the famed Polish emissary's later years. Wierzynski spoke about Karski’s and other survivors’ feelings of guilt. Karski was haunted by the memory of several dozen men and women who were executed as a reprisal for organizing his escape from Gestapo captivity in 1940. He told Wierzyński that “history is written by those who were spared, and those who fell could not speak.” Wierzyński said that Karski “combined a steadfast attachment to moral values with the knowledge that the world does not abide by them, because they are difficult and impractical and often impossible.”
A tour of the Churchill War Rooms, the wartime bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the bombings of London, followed this fascinating session. Copies of the newly released edition of Georgetown University Press's 'Story of a Secret State' were given as gifts to all attendees of the weekend in London.
Photos below, left to right: Overflow crowd at the event, including Polish Ambassor to the UK Witold Sobków in the front row; Bob Billingsley speaks in front of a Churchill portrait; Foundation director Michal Mrozek, Keynote speaker Maciej Wierzynski, Foundation president Wanda Urbanska and Christopher Ossowski (photos courtesy of Chris Ossowski and Georgetown University)
