Ramstein, 8 September 2010. Earlier today, General Roger A. Brady, Commander, Allied Air Command Ramstein, accompanied by his wife Litha, dedicated a memorial to the late Commander of the Polish Air Force, General Andrzej Błasik, who died in April when a government airplane crashed en route to attend a commemoration at Katyn, Russia.

The ceremony held at Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein (HQ AC Ramstein) was attended by Mrs. Ewa Błasik and her two children, Joanna and Michał, who survived the late General Błasik.
Also in attendance was the Deputy Commander AC Ramstein, Lieutenant General Friedrich-Wilhelm Ploeger, and the Commander of the United States 3rd Air Force, Lieutenant General Frank Gorenc and his wife Sharon.
The Polish Air Force was represented by several high ranking military led by the representative of the Polish Air Force Commander, Brigadier General Tomasz Drewniak and Polish representatives from NATO HQ at Brussels and Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem.
Many of the HQ AC Ramstein staff, especially the Polish Air Force contingent, witnessed the ceremony led by the HQ Chief of Staff, Major General Jon Abma.
General Brady dedicated the memorial to General Błasik, an oak tree – a symbol of strength in Poland – planted in the premises of HQ AC Ramstein.

Together with Mrs. Błasik, General Brady then unveiled a bronze plaque reading:

IN MEMORY OF  GEN ANDRZEJ BŁASIK

Commander, Polish Air Force, 19 April 2007 – 10 April 2010

“A jeśli komu droga otwarta do nieba, Tym co służą ojczyźnie “  (Jan Kochanowski)

(“The door is open to heaven, for those who serve the fatherland”)

A living memorial on the grounds of HQ AC Ramstein, the oak tree and the plaque will from now on honour the virtue of General Błasik and his contributions to the NATO alliance.

“I truly appreciated the determination of General Błasik as he was a faithful friend and true ally in our efforts to advance Air Power for NATO,” said General Brady, “

the relationships he forged throughout NATO, and especially the United States Air Force, continue to bear fruit for the Alliance and for our nations.”

The short ceremony was closed by a moment of silence in tribute to the late General Andrzej Błasik and the 95 Polish leaders who failed to return from the fateful flight that crashed near Smolensk, Russia, on 10 April this year.

Mrs. Ewa Błasik and her children Joanna and Michal at the memorial for the late Polish Air Chief Andrzej Błasik
Pictures by: PAO HQ AC Ramstein

 

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