Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X that "Poland remembers its heroes and cares for their families."
In a letter issued on the eve of the remembrance day, Kosiniak-Kamysz said "participation by Poland's armed forces in overseas missions has been a key element of Poland’s security system, as well as that of Europe and the wider world."
The remarks were addressed to participants in a military ceremony held on Saturday evening in Warsaw to honour soldiers and civilian personnel who died while serving abroad.
The ceremony took place at Memorial Square near the Centre for Foreign Missions Veterans and is held annually on the eve of the remembrance day.
The commemoration "is an expression of remembrance for comrades-in-arms who, fulfilling their military oath, served their homeland far from its borders, often under conditions of extreme danger," Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote.
His message was read out by Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Bejda.
"They gave what was most precious—their own lives," Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote. "Their sacrifice was not in vain and will forever remain inscribed in the history of the Polish Armed Forces and in the memory of our nation."
'Help and hope'
Kosiniak-Kamysz said Polish soldiers had brought "help and hope," representing their country with honour, professionalism and courage, and vowed that the armed forces would never forget their fallen heroes.
Bejda told the gathering that the deaths of Polish soldiers on overseas missions were not in vain.
"We will do everything to ensure that Poland is safe," he said.
During the ceremony, the names of soldiers and civilian defence ministry employees who died while serving abroad were read out, and lanterns bearing their likenesses were displayed.
Officials from the defence ministry, the National Security Bureau (BBN) and the armed forces, along with families of the fallen and veterans’ organisations, laid candles and flowers at a monument honouring those killed on foreign missions.
Prayers were also offered for the dead.
Further commemorations were planned for Sunday, including a Mass at the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army and a formal roll call of the fallen at the Monument to Soldiers Killed in Foreign Missions and Military Operations.
Poland has marked the Day of Remembrance since 2015. The date commemorates December 21, 2011, when five Polish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan after an improvised explosive device detonated beneath their vehicle—the deadliest single day in the history of Poland's overseas missions.
The soldiers, aged 22 to 33, were posthumously awarded military honours by the president for bravery and valor.
Poland’s involvement in overseas missions dates back to 1953, when Polish personnel were sent as observers to the Korean Peninsula.
Since then, more than 115,000 Poles—primarily soldiers, but also police officers and civilian staff—have taken part in missions abroad.
More than 120 have been killed or have died, and over 800 have been wounded, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
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Source: PAP