The Polish Post bids farewell to Marshal Kornel Morawiecki
On the last day of September 2019, the Senior Marshal of the 8th Sejm passed away. Remembered as a relentless, courageous, and staunch enemy of communism, he adored the vision of a free Poland and tirelessly pursued this ideal, regardless of the high cost. Kornel Morawiecki left his mark not only on Polish history but also as a scientist and long-time academic lecturer.
Two years ago, in response to a request from the Senior Marshal, Poczta Polska introduced a postage stamp, complete with an FDC envelope and a date stamp, commemorating Fighting Solidarity. It depicts the movement's symbols against a white-and-red flag.
" It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to one of the fathers of contemporary Poland. History often brutally intrudes on our lives, forcing unwanted compromises and shameful conformism. However, there are exceptional, unwavering people – heroes who put the common good above their own interests. Marshal Kornel Morawiecki was just such a person, who steadfastly upheld values not only during the communist era but also in free Poland. I am pleased that we issued the "Fighting Solidarity" stamp while he was still alive. Thanks to this, he was able to see our small monument erected to honor the great legacy of the organization he founded, " said Przemysław Sypniewski, President of the Management Board of Poczta Polska.
Fighting Solidarity was a reaction to the suppressed freedoms and the oppressive brutalization of the communist regime, expressed by the introduction of martial law, the delegalization of Solidarity and intensified repression against society, especially activists of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union and representatives of all independence ideas.
The importance of Kornel Morawiecki's character as perceived by the totalitarian Security Service of the Polish People's Republic is demonstrated by the series of repressions and harassment he and his loved ones endured. Besides imprisonment, the deportation of the future Senior Marshal after his failed return from the West also resonated widely. What distinguished the Senior Marshal from many activists of the former Solidarity movements during the transition period was his rejection of the Round Table Talks, believing them to be immoral and a fundamental error.
President Andrzej Duda awarded the Senior Marshal the Order of the White Eagle in recognition of his distinguished contribution to democratic change in Poland and for his outstanding achievements in public and state activities.