KALISZ POMORSKIE, Poland - Soldiers with P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, visited a Polish school Sept. 11, 2015, in Kalisz Pomorskie, Poland.
During the visit, the Soldiers, along with the students and members of the local community commemorated 9/11 with a memorial ceremony.
"It just means that we're all in it together," said Pfc. William Gillis, a Soldier with P Troop. "They obviously see some value in us that they would take the time to include us in their ceremony and that's very special."
Additionally, Capt. Kaleb Blankenship, the commanding officer of P Troop spoke about the past tragedy and its effects on America.
"They had local civic leaders there, as well as military leaders from [Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area]," said Capt. Kaleb Blankenship, the commander of P Troop. "They talked about terrorism and I was able to share the impact Sept. 11 had in the United States and what it was like to experience it in the United States."
Throughout his lecture, Blankenship not only spoke about the affect the attack had on America, he also discussed how 9/11 affected the international community.
"What I really tried to communicate was that it was a horrible thing, but what was really inspiring about it was the way the international community responded," said Blankenship. "It wasn't just Americans pulling together and bridging gaps, ...You had international leaders calling our president and offering condolences and assistance. You had a multinational coalition going into Afghanistan as a result."
For many Americans, 9/11 marks a significant moment in U.S. history, additionally, the attack on September 11th, holds an important meaning for the students as well.
To pay respects to the victims of the 9/11 attack, the school was named In the Memory of 9/11: The Victims of a Terrorist Attack.
However, the school's ties to America and U.S. Soldiers dates back many years before 9/11.
"[The Ceremony] is very important because of the name of the school and because we are proud we've cooperated with American Soldiers since the 1990s," said Joanna Boniecka, an English teacher at the school. "Since we've been involved with soldiers since the 1990s we feel very connected with Soldiers and their history."
Shortly before 9/11, Soldiers stationed in Germany assisted the school by repairing the roof of the building, said Boniecka. During their time at the school, the Soldiers became very close with the school and the students.
Unfortunately, the attack took place during the during the reconstruction.
Seeing how the Americans were affected by the tragedy, the school administration petitioned to have the school named changed to honor the victims.
"Throughout my entire time here in Poland I've noticed that the Polish people love the United States, and I think they see the United States as an ideal and they love it and they love meeting us and speaking English," said Blankenship. "The fact that they would name a school after that just shows their commitment to being a good ally. It shows what a great friend we have in Poland."
The U.S. Soldiers are in Poland as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing multinational partnership focused on combined training and security cooperation between NATO allies. Led by the mission command element of the 4th Infantry Division and in conjunction with European partner nations, Atlantic Resolve is intended to improve combined operational capability in a range of missions and ensure the continued peace and stability of Europe.
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