Ewa Wierzynska, Maciej Klimczak, Andrzej Rojek and Wanda Urbanska
The excitement over Jan Karski’s posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom award extended from Washington DC to Warsaw, Poland. On Monday, June 4, a distinguished panel discussed Jan Karski’s life and legacy at Kino Kultura in Warsaw, in a joint program sponsored by US Ambassador Lee Feinstein and Director Robert Kostro of the Polish History Museum in Warsaw. Jan Karski US Centennial Campaign Director Wanda Urbanska served on the panel alongside former Polish Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld, and long-time Karski friend and champion Kaya Mirecka Ploss.
Together with Ewa Wierzynska of the Polish History Museum and Karski Campaign Steering Committee member Andrzej Rojek, Ms. Urbanska had the privilege of meeting Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski. At that time, she was able to thank him for his patronage of the Karski Centennial Campaign, along with Maciej Klimczak, secretary at the Presidential Chancellery in charge of cultural affairs.
The highlight of a special reception at the US Ambassador’s residence on the evening of June 4 was conferring the Jan Karski award to Polish director Agnieszka Holland. Holland was a nominee for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film for “In Darkness.”
Ms. Wierzynska, Mr. Rojek and Ms. Urbanska were also privileged to meet with author and Professor Norman Davies and Mrs. Maria Davies at the Boutique B&B in Warsaw, where they dined on a sumptuous breakfast, featuring local and organic components. After the feast, Dr. Davies took to the piano to show off his musical talents.
Photos below (left to right) top row: Ewa Wierzynska, Maciej Klimczak, Andrzej Rojek and Wanda Urbanska; Campaign Director Urbanska meets with Polish President Komorowski; Ms. Urbanska with Norman Davies (photo courtesy of Tomasz Kwiatkowski)
