More than 120 people took part in the promotion of the publication entitled “Monuments, memorials, commemorative plaques in the Municipality of Brzeszcze,” organized at the fire station of the Brzeszcze Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The meeting was organized on the day of the World Cup soccer match between Poland and Argentina. However, this did not affect the attendance. Once again, extra chairs had to be brought in for the history lovers who came in large numbers to the hall on Piastowska Street.
Those gathered were welcomed by Teresa Jankowska. On Wednesday evening she appeared in several roles: as a representative of the Brzost Association for the benefit of the Brzeszcze community, the author of the texts from the book being promoted, as well as a member of Oświęcim district board and a friend of the Remembrance Museum.
“Welcome on behalf of the “Brzost” Association, which dreamed of having this publication published. Where did the dream come from? In 1998, Dr. Jacek Lachendro and his students at Elementary School No. 3 formed a history circle. At that time, they began compiling the history of monuments, plaques and memorials in our municipality. After a short time, Dr. Jacek Lachendro took up a new job. He now works at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. But the fact that he made a pledge to these young people that their work would be included in the publication was still alive in Jacek,” she said as she recalled the creation of the collective work. Thanks to the commitment of the association, Dr. Jacek Lachendro (the book is prepared under his editorship) and many others, after more than 20 years and the addition of content, “Monuments, memorials, commemorative plaques in the Municipality of Brzeszcze” appeared in print.
The Remembrance Museum of Land of Oświęcim Residents played an important role in this process as a publisher.
“The Museum of the Remembrance of the Residents of the Land of Oświęcim has in its goals, activities, precisely memory. Plaques and monuments are one of the most enduring forms of commemoration that point to fates, to residents, to events. It is difficult to imagine that our institution, whose message is to preserve the heritage of the area, would not participate in such an important event as the release of this publication,” highlighted Remembrance Museum director Dorota Mleczko.
The meeting was to include an extensive lecture by Dr. Jacek Lachendro on selected items from the promoted publication. However, due to throat problems, the researcher limited himself to addressing two issues: the contents of the plaques on the former school building in Bor/Budy, which housed the Auschwitz women prisoners’ penal company, and the graves of Auschwitz prisoners at the cemetery in Brzeszcze.
After the promised books were distributed to the participants, a long line of eager participants lined up at the tables where dedications were inscribed by Dr. Jacek Lachendro and Teresa Jankowska.
The organisers of the book promotion “Monuments, memorials, commemorative plaques in Brzeszcze Commune” were: the Remembrance Museum, the Association for the Commune of Brzeszcze “Brzost”, Brzeszcze Commune, Local Government No. 3 in Brzeszcze. Partner of the event – Volunteer Fire Brigade in Brzeszcze.
