Smolensk 2010 - a tragedy still unsolved one year later

Part of St. Mary's sanctuary is visible, with cameras poised at the back and side

President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria

Throngs of people filled St. Mary of the Angels Church, 1850 N. Hermitage St., the evening of April 2 was dedicated to remembering and honoring the Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria and the ninety-four other people who lost their lives in the plane crash in Russia a year earlier. This was the first in a week long series of events across the city and suburbs focused on remembering.

Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, and members of the families from Poland and Chicago who lost loved ones were special guests during an evening of readings, videos and music.

Francis Cardinal George

To assist everyone in seeing the activities, two large screens were suspended at the front of the congregation. In the darkened space, spotlights bathed parts of the sanctuary in strong brilliant colors, helping give the sense of somber celebration.

Father Jason Torba of St. Ferdinand's began the program. Lucja Silwa followed, reading a letter written by Marta Kaczynska, the daughter of the late President and his wife. Later in the evening Jan Pospieszalski read the same letter in Polish.

Throughout the readings of the letter and the musical performances, clips from a documentary created by Mr. Pospieszalski were shown on the big screens. Images of rows of caskets; people lining the streets; the lone daughter kneeling before her parents' caskets which were on public display; the President's twin brother on his knees at the end of his brother's casket; the hearses; and the heart- wrenching sorrow on the faces of the people. The images made it appear and feel as though the events were going on as one watched.

The name of each victim was read as a photo appeared on the large screens with their name and position below. In addition to the Polish President, the plane was filled with government officials and supporters. "Poles see the crash as the greatest national tragedy since the end of the Second World War," explains Dan Pogorzelski.

The first musical tribute by the International Chamber Artists led by Patrick Godon was Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. Later the musicians were joined by a choir when they performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem Mass in D minor. Soloists were soprano Jessica Underwood, mezzo-soprano Janet Mensen Reynolds, tenor Garrett Johannsen and bass Eric Miranda.

Marta Kaczynska

In her letter, Marta thanks the organizers of the week-long celebration in the Chicago area indicating that "... in our common motherland, organizers of similar commemorations often find obstacles in their way which thwart their efforts to bring everyone together to mark the first anniversary... The organizers of a memorial concert marking the anniversary of this event have been repeatedly denied any permit to do so in Downtown Warsaw, and Warsaw's city council has voted against flying the Polish flag at half-mast on April the 10th as well."

She goes on to weave possible reasons for the crash with ties to the attempt on Pope John Paul II's life. Pogorzelski's translation of Marta Kaczynska's letter is attached.

Additional events maybe found on the Smolensk 2010 website.

Further information: BBC Obit; Economist Obit

Special thanks to Dan Pogorzelski for his assistance with covering this story. He and John Maloof authored the Arcadia book, Images of America - Portage Park.

Read Dan Pogorzelski's translation of Marta Kaczynska's letter which was read at the April 2, 2011, Smolensk 2010 event.

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