Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Gen. Franciszek Gągor was the highest ranking military officer killed in the crash. Prior to serving in this position, he served as the Polish Military Representative to NATO and the European Unio...
MONS, Belgium - The NATO Alliance united at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe April 14 to pay respects to the Polish president, heads of the Polish armed forces and others who perished in a plane crash April 10 in Russia.
Nine general officers, including Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Gen. Franciszek GA,,aEUR|gor, Commander of the Air Forces Lt. Gen. Andrzej BA...'asik, Commander of the Land Forces Maj. Gen. Tadeusz Buk and Commander of the Navy Vice Adm. Andrzej Karweta, were killed alongside President Lech KaczyA..."ski.
Servicemen and women from numerous NATO nations joined in solidarity at the SHAPE Chapel during a ceremony that commemorated all who died.
"Sometimes there are no words for moments in life. I think that such a moment came in the life of my nation - the time when words fail us to describe this tragic blow, the loss of our leaders, commanders our colleagues and friends," said Col. Andrzej Brzoza, the Polish national military representative at SHAPE.
"But still we need to express our profound sorrow, and when the words fail, then let our grief be expressed by our gratitude, by the being together of the Polish community and her friends and by our solidarity in the face of this tragedy," he continued.
During the somber ceremony, a Polish lieutenant colonel read the bios of the president, first lady, undersecretary of state of the Ministry of National Defense and fellow officers.
GA,,aEUR|gor, the highest-ranking officer killed in the crash, served his nation for 37 years and held many positions in the Polish armed forces, including the Polish Military Representative to NATO and the European Union in Brussels.
On his blog, Adm. James Stavridis, the supreme allied commander Europe, remembered his friend.
"Franciszek [GA,,aEUR|gor] lived a full and meaningful life, and all of us at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe mourn his loss. He was not only a leader in his nation's military, but also a strong and highly respected voice in the councils of NATO," he said.
During the service, U.S. Army Garrison Benelux Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jerzy Rzasowski offered peace and hope to those who gathered in the chapel. Rzasowski was born in Eastern Poland and moved to the U.S. in 1989.
"Just a short time ago we were celebrating resurrection. We were singing hallelujah. New life was visited, and a few days later, we were asked to go back under the cross," said the Polish American priest.
"Mr. President with his wife and whole entourage - generals, commanders, bishops, parliamentarians, people of good will - they wanted to commemorate this tragic massacre that happened 70 years ago," he said referring to the voyage the group was making to remember the thousands of Polish officers and public servants massacred in the Soviet Union during World War II.
"They wanted to offer a peace that there wouldn't be any more division between neighbors, and they died. We do not understand this death, but we know that from first cross, good fruits came, and we pray, we pray that from this second one, so painful, will also good fruits come, that people can live in peace and love and understanding and acceptance," he said.
Following his homily, guests approached the altar, which was adorned with the Polish flag, pictures of the president and general and a list of those killed. Soldiers offered a salute, and mothers and children dropped to their knees to say a prayer and make the sign of the cross.
The Alliance continues to mourn at SHAPE. As the flags of 27 NATO nations soar at the top of their posts, the flag of Poland rests in sorrow at half-staff, reminding NATO staff and SHAPE visitors of the tragedy.
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