This year's march proceeds under the slogan "Poland is not yet lost." The event began with the organizers' speeches and the singing of the national anthem. The march started after 2 p.m. from Roman Dmowski roundabout, according to officials.
Dozens of thousands of participants waved Poland-coloured flags as they marched through the streets of Warsaw, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported. The march passed through the city's central Jerozolimskie Avenue, proceeded across the Vistula River, and ended at the National Stadium.
In recent years, the annual Independence March has attracted up to 250,000 participants, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The demonstration, which has been taking place on the streets of Warsaw to mark the anniversary of Poland regaining independence, has been organized since 2011 by the Independence March association, according to Poland’s TVP World.
The day’s main ceremony took place at noon in the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Square in Warsaw, with President Andrzej Duda, First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in attendance, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported. President Andrzej Duda during his speech said that “Poland must continue armament programs to ensure its security amid Russian imperialism”.
“Poland must strengthen the military security of our country, rebuild the significant potential of our army, modernize it, make it capable of defending Poland in the event of external aggression, and be able to fight, even against the Russian army if it wanted to come here," Duda continued.
Earlier in the day, President Andrzej Duda laid wreaths at the monuments of the Fathers of Independence, located along the Royal Route in Warsaw, PAP reported.
Commemorative running events were also held in Berlin and New York, while Holy Masses were celebrated in Ottawa and Paris. In Florence, the mayor of Przemyśl, Wojciech Bakun, was honored for his solidarity and help during the war in Ukraine. In Estonia, Poles from all over this country participated in the celebration of National Independence Day, organized in Tallinn by the Union of Poles in Estonia.
Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria, and Prussia.
(aj)
SOURCE: PAP, TVP World, IAR, onet.pl