Polish Home Army Veterans' Association Kolo A.K., Los Angeles PostHistory and activity of the Post
by Andrzej Nizynski
The veterans of the Polish Home Army, namely those living in Southern California who fought the German occupation forces in Poland, the Wehrmacht and the Gestapo, from September 1939 to the end of the Second World War, established a Veterans Post in Los Angeles in August 1967. Over 40 of its members had taken part in the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944 or fought in A.K. units on Polish soil. The A.K. Post has full membership in the A.K. Council in London, and its charter clearly defines its goals and membership rules.
The founder of the Post and its first Commander was Cap. Marian Kaminski, a Polish army career officer and a commander of a regiment during the Warsaw Uprising. For nearly 20 years Mr. W. Rokicki, a member of the A.K. Main CounciI in London, was the Los Angeles Post Commander. With his wife Anna and the Post CounciI he organized many memorable social, cultural and fund-raising events. At this time the main thrust of the members is financial support for A.K. veterans, both in Poland and in Southern California, who are sick, neglected and need both materials and moral support.
Annually over 20 families in Poland receive regular donations which help them in the purchase of medication, clothing and even food. Some of them are blind or without arms or legs, and receive only minimum support from the Polish government. The second aim is support of the Home Army Foundation, an associated institution created to collect and preserve historical data, documents, books and memoirs of A.K. veterans in a museum and library.
Annually, for the past twenty years on the 1st of August (the date of the start of the Warsaw Uprising), a delegation of A.K. veterans from the Los Angeles Post places a wreath at the foot of the Monument to the Warsaw Insurrection in the Warsaw Powazki Cemetery. The Los Angeles Post is the only such veterans' unit outside Poland which pays tribute to those who gave their lives during the Second World War and the Warsaw uprising, fighting for freedom and independence.
In addition to the above goals, the Post members take part in the patriotic and historical veterans' activities of the Polish community. They were active in "Solidarity" activities, Scouting, youth organizations and cultural clubs.
On October 11, 1993, the Los Angeles Post participated in a ceremonial planting of trees in the city of Needles, to honor all soldiers and armies of World War II under Allied Command. Twenty one trees were planted, Tree number seven, a California sycamore, was dedicated to the Polish Armed Forces, Poznan Army, Air Force and Polish Home Army.
The current president is Andrzej Nizynski. Other Officers include W. Narbut, Grazyna Dabrowska, Zofia Bernhardt, Alicja and Mieczyslaw Ciecek.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.