RITA COSBY AT BROOKLYN WARSAW UPRISING MURAL

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HISTORIC MEMORIAL AT POLISH NATIONAL HOME

Photos By: James Edstrom

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Rita Cosby Beside Dad Ryszard Kossobudzki's Mural

Tomaczek Bednarek Performs National Anthem

Warsaw Uprising Mural

Warsaw Upriser Janina Zadrozna And Gregory Fryc

Marek Chroscielewski With Rita Cosby, Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka And Tomaczek Bednarek

Dignitaries At Warsaw Memorial

A beautiful tribute took place to honor the Warsaw Uprisers who launched the biggest citizens resistance attack against the Nazis 70 years ago this month.

The historic memorial honoring them was a magnificent and poignant mural unveiled last Sunday outside the Polish National Home in New York City's Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The first-ever Warsaw Uprising memorial in America contained the faces of several courageous young fighters, including that of Ryszard Kossobudzki, father of TV and radio star Rita Cosby. Her heartfelt speech to a packed audience which filled the entire street, talked about the incredible struggle the 40-thousand men and women faced in their 63 day battle in WWII to save their country. Her book about her father, "Quiet Hero," became the first New York Times best seller in decades to shine a light on this important fight for freedom.

Among those also in attendance…. Polish fighters, American veterans, foreign dignitaries such as Polish Consul General Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, New York State Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, as well as award-winning singer Tomaczek Bednarek, who performed the American anthem. Resistance fighter, 94 year old Janina Zadrozna, spoke about the horrors her family endured and the bravery of the Polish nation. She called Sunday's unveiling of the memorial, "one of the most special days in her life."

The giant mural, which has as it's backdrop the symbolic Polish eagle and Polish red and white flag, was a powerful initiative of Gregory Fryc of The Pangea Network and the Polish Army Veterans Association of America, spearheaded by father and son Antoni and Marek Chroscielewski. Painter Rafal Pisarczyk spent several weeks creating the moving masterpiece.