The personnel of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), both in Szczecin and Kabul, commemorated the tragic death of the Polish President Lech Kaczyński and other important personages who died in the plane crash on 10 April 2010. The ceremonies were held on 11 and 12 April.
In Kabul
On the initiative of Colonel Dawidczyk, the Polish Senior National Officer for Polish MNC NE personnel serving in Kabul, the line-up was held on 11 April 2010 at noon Polish time, 14:30 Kabul time. The Polish servicemen from the Corps, other Polish personnel serving at the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) as well as representatives of other nations who joined in the ceremony, gathered in front of the Polish flag, which was lowered to half-mast. Just like in Poland, everybody commemorated the tragically dead Poles with two minutes of silence.
All Polish personnel also signed a letter of condolence, which was taken to the Polish Embassy in Kabul.
In Szczecin
"At this time of sorrow, please accept our sincere condolences," said the Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast Lieutenant General Rainer Korff to all Polish military and civilian members of the Headquarters and other Polish people during a special meeting of the whole Headquarters’ personnel held at the Baltic Barracks on 12 April. “We, all nations in the Multinational Corps Northeast are with you – very closely – alongside, with our hearts and minds, our feelings and our compassion and sympathy,” he said. The Commander announced a minute of silence to join the state of mourning. Afterwards, he said the prayer “Our Father” in English. The same prayer was also said in Danish by one of the Danish officers. Then, the German military chaplain took the floor and addressed all the gathered in German. The final word and prayer belonged to the Polish military chaplain who prayed for all the victims and their families and friends.
