United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad
on receiving the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Washington, D.C., July 8, 2003
President of the Polish Senate Longin Pastusiak (right) congratulates Warren L. Miller Chairman of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage broad during ceremony of awarding Mr. Miller with high Polish distinction
President Pastusiak, Ambassador Grudziński, my special friends Ambassador Ayalon of the State of Israel, Ambassador Daremblum of the Republic of Costa Rica, Distinguished Guests,
Let me begin by asking the President of the Senate and the Ambassador to convey my heartfelt appreciation to President Kwasniewski for this high honor. I also appreciate the generous remarks made today. To receive such an honor is a humbling experience.
I recognize, however, that the award of this medal is also a tribute to the work of the commission that I chair and because of my work in advancing the cause of Holocaust remembrance. Thus, this medal is also a statement of respect to the millions who perished, the survivors, the partisans, and the liberators. On behalf of those who cry out for justice – but whose voices cannot be heard, I thank the government of Poland for its ongoing commitment to truthfully remembering what happened – to remembering how from 1939 to 1945 – the Nazis made Poland a place of death for the Jewish people of Europe. The Germans also intended to destroy Poland as a nation, and we must never forget the intense suffering and martyrdom of the Polish people.The Holocaust not only resulted in the Jewish people being destroyed, it also resulted in their culture being devastated. In creating the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, the U.S. Government recognized that as a nation of immigrants, sites important to the cultural heritage of many of our citizens are in Eastern and Central Europe. It also recognized that a special problem existed regarding communal properties important to Jews in the region. No one was left to take care of these sites – because they had been murdered or forced to flee.
In no country was the problem greater than in Poland. To appreciate the enormity of the challenge facing Poland to preserve its Jewish heritage – we need only reflect on the fact that in 1939, 3.3 million Jews lived there – 10% of its total population. Six years later – most were dead, in addition to hundreds of thousands of non-Polish Jews killed by the Nazis on Polish soil. Following Defeat of
Nazism, Poland was subjected to 45 years of communism and repression of its cultural
minorities.
How does a nation preserve thousands of communal sites and artifacts when those communities no longer exist? How does a nation properly memorialize and maintain so many sites of international infamy – Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Majdanek, Belzec, Sobibor, Chelmno?
It requires commitment of resources, determination by the leaders of the country, and international cooperation – by governments and the private sector.
I am pleased to recognize that this is happening with the encouragement and full support of the Polish Government. Since 1989, when Poland became an independent and democratic nation, major progress has been made in providing a receptive environment for these efforts to be undertaken.
The government has encouraged Jewish cemetery and synagogue preservation efforts, helped stop the desecration of such sites, and has begun to confront the difficult process of property restitution.
It has provided the resources needed to staff state museums, such as that at Auschwitz – Birkenau with outstanding scholars and experts, and it has maintained the sites of killing centers such as Majdanek and Auschwitz, with great care to preserve and display the physical artifacts that remain in a dignified manner.
The Polish government has also committed several million dollars in partnership with the American Jewish Committee to create a proper memorial at Belzec, and it has agreed to commit millions more to creating in the center of Warsaw, a Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which will relate the life and contributions, not only the destruction, of an important part of Polish heritage.
In addition to these efforts – under the courageous leadership of President Kwasniewski, the sensitive issue of anti-Semitism and Polish Jewish relations is being confronted in a positive and forthright manner. This effort has been enthusiastically supported by Prime Minister Miller, President Pastusiak, Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz, Minister Siwiec, Ambassador Grudziński and other senior officials of the Government of Poland.
An unambiguous and unequivocal message has been delivered by the leaders of the government of Poland to the people of Poland – anti-Semitism will not be tolerated – it is wrong and it is immoral. This message is being conveyed in the schools and in public forums, and it is having an impact. While the rest of Europe is experiencing outbreaks of anti-Semitism and hate based incidents, Poland is not. Moral leadership is important – and it is effective.
Such moral leadership was displayed by President Kwaśniewski when he led the nation in facing up to and being remorseful for the awful truth that Polish citizens, not the Nazis, massacred their Jewish neighbors in Jedwabne.
His insistence upon historical truth – even when it may be politically unpopular deserves recognition and commendation. Such efforts to truthfully confront the past will ensure a more tolerant future.
Poland’s leaders
are gaining the respect and admiration of people around the world for the pluralistic society that is being established in their country. Our Commission looks forward to continuing to work together to eliminate harmful stereotypes, prejudice and the distrust that arises from lack of knowledge of one anothers cultures.
I thank the President again for this high honor. I am proud to say – and be – a friend of Poland.