NEW YORK – From April 26 to 27, 2019  the annual Kosciuszko Memorial events were held at the United States Military Academy at West Point. On Friday the American Association of the Friends of Kosciuszko at West Point hosted the 16th Annual Tadeusz Kosciuszko Conference on the grounds of the academy. The theme of this year’s conference was the 70th anniversary of NATO. The Polish Defense Attaché Office in Washington was represented by Colonel Paweł Marzęda, and the conference included a panel honoring Poland’s 20th anniversary of NATO membership.

The next morning began with the Kosciuszko Memorial Mass in the Catholic Chapel, followed by a USMA cadet review and the memorial ceremony at West Point’s Kosciuszko Monument. Polish Defense Attaché Major General Cezary Wiśniewski delivered remarks as part of the ceremony and together with Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges and Lithuanian Vice Minister of Defense Giedrimas Jeglinskas laid a wreath at the Kosciuszko Monument. Over 350 people attended the ceremony. Polonia was well represented among the attendees that included scouting and school groups, veterans’ organizations and choirs.

Also taking part in the Kosciuszko Memorial events were Polish Secretary of State and Senator Anna Maria Anders, Superintendent of the Polish Military Academy Brigadier General Dariusz Skorupka and Bogdan Horoszowski, a veteran of the Polish Underground during World War II and participant in the Warsaw Uprising. Next year’s events will be held on 24-25 April 2020.