70th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation
America’s oldest Polish cultural Mission partners with Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations to begin nationwide observance of 70th Anniversary of Auschwitz liberation at the United Nations, New York
Orchard Lake, MI – The Polish Mission of the Orchard Lake Schools (founded 1885 – Detroit, MI) continues nation-wide cultural programs aimed at highlighting Poland and Polish culture. The Polish Mission is America’s leading non-profit cultural institution. The apex of this their mission is the exclusive partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum of Poland, the world’s most authentic symbol of the Holocaust.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz (January 27th, 1945), The Polish Mission, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations, will take the 3-ton Forbidden Art exhibition to the United Nations, New York City. This most authentic memorial of the Holocaust, genocide, and the terror of the concentration camps will begin worldwide commemorations of the liberation of Auschwitz. It presents modern Holocaust education, in full cooperation with the team of professionals at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. The cooperation between The Polish Mission and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum has been endorsed by both Vice President Biden and President Barack Obama.
According to Polish Mission director Marcin Chumiecki, “We have brought the message of Auschwitz, in a tangible way, to the United States.” He continued, “We invite all Americans to join the international community as we remember the Holocaust in January and always. Silence can be violent, and we must be united in protecting the future.”
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Director Dr. Piotr Cywiński said that “It is urgently critical that we preserve Auschwitz, the most authentic symbol of the Holocaust. The United Nations will be a most meaningful venue for Forbidden Art in the United States, but it will be most especially important to the global community of survivors, many of whom will participate personally in this remarkable anniversary.”
Dr. Cywiński and Marcin Chumiecki, along with Deputy Secretary General of the UN Jan Eliasson, Polish Ambassador to the UN Boguslaw Winid, US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, will be present at the opening reception for Forbidden Art on January 21 at the United Nations. It will be on display through February.
Auschwitz-Birkenau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in southern Poland. Following a pledge of support made in 2009 by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, The United States recently contributed fifteen million dollars toward the preservation of Auschwitz.
Admission to the exhibition premier gala is by invitation only. Contact Counselor at the Polish Mission to the United Nations Ewa Malys at ewa.malys@msz.gov.pl (646) 559-7573 for attendance information.
Please visit www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/2015/calendar2015.html for more information
About the Polish Mission: The purpose of The Polish Mission of the Orchard Lake Schools, which were founded in 1885 by Polish immigrants, is to preserve and promote Polish and Polish-American culture, tradition, and history for present and future generations. The Polish Mission organizes programs, courses and events that highlight Polish and Polish-American culture and accomplishments, and ensures a repository for artifacts, archival materials, works of art, and publications. For more information, please visit www.polishmission.com
