My great-grandfather Czesław
In every person's life, the history and origins of their family are crucial, reflecting who we come from and where we come from. Taking part in the competition was a chance for me to discover my family’s history. My mother often told me about her roots and memories of visits to her grandparents. These memories are now accessible to me when I first stumbled upon the fascinating story of my great-grandfather Czesław.
Czesław Rolek was born before the Second World War in 1923, in a small town on the Bug River, near Małkinia Górna. The town was called Rostki Wielkie. My great-grandfather had a very difficult life when the war broke out as a young boy who lost his parents. He had to take over the responsibilities of his parents and act as a guardian for his three siblings. It was a very difficult time, but my great-grandfather was characterized by resilience and honesty. The words "family" and motherland "homeland" meant a great deal to him, and God always held supreme protection in his heart. As a patriot with a big heart, he felt a great affection for his homeland and for its freedom. He then joined the Home Army to actively participate in its defense. In a country in which the enemy held power, had to manage repression. My great-grandfather was imprisoned in a one of prisons in Warsaw. This fact alone could have broken anyone, but not my great- grandfather. After the war, he was recognized for his acomplishments services. Medals and decorations have been carefully preserved in my family to this day.
After these difficult times and experiences, when my great-grandfather returned to the family, he had to somehow support his siblings. His main occupation was farming and raising livestock. But my great-grandfather was a man of action, so in addition to working the land, he took up water transport. After the war, the Germans completely destroyed the existing crossing over the Bug River. So my great-grandfather had a special ferry on which he transported all kinds of vehicles, which in those days were mainly horse-drawn carriages. A boat was sufficient for transporting pedestrians. The ferry itself was mounted so that a rope ran across the entire width of the river, which was could be used to pull the ferry. My mother often tells me how she would stand by the Bug River and people on the other side would wave for them to be ferried over, and then she and my grandfather would swim out to pick them up.
When his siblings became independent and left home, my great- grandfather stayed on the land. He started a family, had a wife, Janina, and a daughter and a son. My beloved grandmother, Bożenka, was his daughter. My grandmother often talks about how difficult those times were, yet how beautiful they were at the same time. Filled with love for family, country, and God. My mother, on the other hand, often says she wishes my sister and I could experience what she did as a child, even for one week.
My great-grandfather died on November 11, 2002. This is a highly symbolic date, as it is Poland's National Independence Day, commemorating Poland's regaining of sovereignty after 123 years of partition. It was banned during World War II and abolished under the Polish People's Republic. It was only reinstated in 1989. My grandmother always says that my great-grandfather Czesio died on his holiday: because he fought for a sovereign Poland his entire life.
I can confidently say that who I am now and the kind of person I want to be are deeply rooted in my genes. It was my great-grandfather Czasław who taught my grandmother what is most important in life, she passed it on to her daughter, and my mother to me. Today, mementos like these are primarily symbolic, but when we begin to trace the times from which they originate, it turns out that not only the symbolism plays a major role, but also the people behind them. I'm beginning to understand why my mother places such strong emphasis on the role of homeland and God in our lives. The words "God," "honor," and "homeland" are a guide for my generation, often lost in the modern world.