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Dytiatin

"Memory Lives On"

Dytiatin

"Memory Lives On"

103rd Anniversary of the Battle of Dytiatyn

"Memory Lives On"

September 16, 2023

September 16, 2023 is another date in our calendar of memories, where Memory Endures. Despite all the adversities that may stand in our way to abandon memory, to forget. It does not want to give way, this Memory that is independent of circumstances.

Another, second year of war in Ukraine would like to take away our opportunity to Remember what is rooted in the heart, does not allow us to forget the most important things – Remember those who sacrificed their lives on Dytiatyn Hill. And we, invariably, continue to leave our flowers, candles and thoughts there, together with them.

This year's celebrations, as every year, began with a solemn Holy Mass at the War Cemetery in Dytiatyn. The Holy Mass was presided over by the Provincial Minister of the Province of St. Anthony and Blessed Jakub Strzemię of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (Franciscans) in Kraków – Fr. Marian Gołąb. This solemn, central point of this celebration always focuses our thoughts on something more. On life, death and meaning. Did their fight in this place make sense? Was giving their lives in the name of their values a good decision? Perhaps many of those present at the ceremony had similar questions in their minds. It makes sense. A good decision is not always beneficial from our point of view, but it gives fruit, fruit for others, good fruit for future generations. Recalling the words of Fr. Stanisław Kawa – Custodian of the Custody of St. Cross in Ukraine, which he delivered to the participants gathered at the Dytiatyn Cemetery, we will hear: "We are gathering here in the second year of Russia's war against Ukraine, in the place where the Bolshevik troops were stopped 103 years ago. Our Nation is fighting the same enemy again. A moment ago we heard a fragment of the Gospel, in which the words of Jesus about a good and a bad tree, about a good and a bad builder were recorded. Every tree is recognized by its fruit, and a builder by the building he built." Guided by the Gospel comparison, we see that fruit, although it may sometimes be difficult to accept, when it builds, is good fruit. The merits and hard work of soldiers who ultimately gave their lives, but built faith, steadfastness, fortitude and an independent Fatherland in their compatriots. The highest values, although forgotten by many today. Following the words of the homily delivered by Fr. Stanisław Kawa, we read: "We come to the graves of our Heroes to thank them for their courage, to pray for their salvation, but not only that. We come so that their sacrifice will not be in vain. That is why we need to learn something, we need to change something in our lives. We must be wiser and demand justice and love from those in power." These words remind us that these values, although many want to consider them forgotten, outdated, we must cultivate, observe, and protect patriotic and Christian values in our lives. The fruit that we bear with our lives for others is the most important value passed on to future generations. At the end of his homily, the Custodian of the Custody of the Holy Cross recalled a fragment of the book "The Fortress" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who wrote: "Sadness is always born from time that passes and leaves no fruit." The heroes in Dytiatyn left a fruit, a fruit that took their life, but gave life to many others. That is why our Memory Lasts and will continue to last.

During the Dytiatyn celebrations, as every year, letters addressed to the participants of this event were also read. The Secretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, Mr. Jan Dziedziczak, delivered his message. In his letter, he recalled: "It is our duty to defend the values of the civilized world - freedom, solidarity, the rights of states and nations to territorial integrity and self-determination - together with Ukraine and democratic countries, oppose this aggression in every possible way." This important thought guided the heroic deeds of the heroes who died in Dytiatyn. The fight that took place on its fields invariably reminds us that hardship and unwavering defense of one's values bring victory for the future. In the letter of the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Mrs. Elżbieta Witek, we heard: "The great heroism and sacrifice of Captain Jan Gabryś's battalion in the Battle of Dytiatyn in 1920 deserves the highest recognition and memory of generations. Love of the Fatherland, courage and determination of a handful of soldiers who resisted the overwhelming forces of the Bolshevik invader to the last drop of blood, saved larger Polish units from being defeated and thus influenced the further course of military operations in the Kresy area. "That is why our memory lasts and will last, passed on through celebrations and memory to all future generations.

 

After the reading of the letters and words of reflection, those gathered at the ceremony had the opportunity to lay flowers and light candles at the plaques with the names of the fallen heroes. Perhaps many of these people lit a candle remembering the fragment of the letter from the Secretary of State, Mr. Andrzej Dera, read a moment ago: "Today we bow before their sacrifice, believing that the legend of the battles on Dytiatyn Hill will be remembered by future generations". Official delegations of state and church institutions, laying flowers, made this very bow before the monument to the fallen with the greatest reverence. Such a symbolic gesture, a gesture of remembrance and a symbol of light, which hovered for many hours after the celebrations had ended over the hill in Dytiatyn, symbolizes memory that is beyond time. The past 100 years have not changed anything in the memory of those who want to remember.

May this memory live on!

Glory to the Heroes!

"Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund"

War cemetery in Dytiatyn

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