Statement from the March of the Living on the Loss of Life in Tragic Polish Air Accident

On Saturday morning, the people of Poland arose to the news of a devastating plane crash that took the lives of the Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, The First Lady of Poland, Maria Kaczynski, and dozens of the country’s top political and military leaders. In total, 97 people lost their lives. The President of Poland was traveling to Russia to mark the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre of Polish prisoners of war, which involved the mass murder of some 22,000 Polish people, primarily military officers, intellectuals, policemen, and other public servants by the Soviet NKVD in the spring of 1940.

The Polish Government has declared a national week of mourning in the wake of this tragic event. We join our Polish brothers and sisters in their time of sorrow, and express our deepest sympathies for their loss. Our thoughts, hopes and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

During the March of the Living, we will express our solidarity with the Polish people over their loss by observing a moment of silence in honor of those who died in this tragic accident.