A SOLDIER WITH WEARING TIE
MAGDALENA KOWALEWSKA
Although he was born on emigration and he spent most of his life in France, he had always been devoted to Poland. During communism he organized medications transport to lots of hospitals in Podkarpacie. – He was sensitive to social injustice and wanted to help others – Alicja Adwent, a widow of deceased Filip Adwent, a founder of the Union of Poles in Alsace tells ‘Niedziela’.
A good father and a famous doctor
Her husband was highly respected in the medical environment. It was just thanks to his engagement at the times when there was lack of everything, that lots of donations got to hospitals, among the others, in Przeworsk, Jasło, Krosno, or Tarnobrzeg. He also organized collections of medical equipment. He was devoted to his medical vocation, and spent his month of holiday on volunteering work in various clinics. His job as a doctor was difficult and demanding, but dr. Adwent spent his time with his three children. – When he returned from his work duty, he cuddled them, enjoying their being healthy. He gave him a good example and supported them in all problems. He was a good father – says Alicja Adwent. ‘My work was not easy, particularly during and after work duties, but I decided to take every moment, even a moment of terrible tiredness as a grace. Am I tired? Good. But it is worth as I helped somebody. (…) Every moment, even pain are worth and enriching’ – wrote Filip Adwent in one of his letters to his children. He entrusted doing all his duties to God.
Life in exile
Dr. Filip was born and brought up in France. ‘(…) on labour emigration from my mother’s side – among Polish miners working hard; political emigration from my dad’s side – among soldiers and officers of the Polish Army. Neither the first nor the other ones renounced Polishness, but always fought for Poland’ – he emphasized in a preface in his books. This is just life in exile and holidays spent till the age of 18 at his grandma in London, who ran a house for veterans of gen. Anders, taught him love to Poland. In one of his letters to his children in 1988 he asked: ‘(…)never forget your Polish mother tongue, your Polish customs! When you have grown up, you will read and hear everything. You will get to know then how little kids, how You were murdered on mothers’ hands, how they were dying from hunger, cold, were thrown away from wagons, hundred thousands were transported onto foreign lands, scattered round all orphanages, and were dying in camps…’.
Dr. Filip Adwent learnt Polishness from courses organized by archbishop Szczepan Wesołek in Italian Loreto and in Spain. Here the youth strengthened their faith, learning about Polish culture and history. – Love to Poland appeared consciously, he loved Poland from the far. He saw the homeland as a far-away country where everything was better than in France – says Alicja Adwent. He was emotionally close to his local homeland and the fate of the whole Polish nation. And he was analyzing the reasons for the loss of independence by Poland and the time of partitions. – I remember us recalling a fragment of the Polish history with Filip. He was really moved by it – says prof. Wiesław Nowakowski . Dr. Adwent had such people worth following as Tadeusz Kościuszko or participants and creators of the Bar Confederation.
He warned against various dangers
Living in the West, before he and his family moved to Poland in 1996, showed him a lot of cultural and civilization dangers lurking at our country. He warned against them, particularly as an MP for the European Parliament. – He emphasized that Poland is the last bastion of faith and a defender of life and family. He saw dangers which were aimed against catholic Poland during his life – says bishop the senior of the diocese of Sandomierz Edward Frankowski. Dr. Adwent foresaw that under a pretext of sticking to human rights Poland would be forced to introduce EU regulations attacking family, marriage, life of the unborn. – It was at that time when he often said how to defend. If he was alive, he would be fighting on the European forum – says the wife of the late Filip Adwent. After the 90s of the last century the politician also spoke about waves of refugees which will spread all over Europe soon.
Prepared for everything
Speaking five languages, the doctor and the euro-deputy called himself ‘a soldier wearing a tie’. – He often said that he was like a soldier, always prepared for everything. He used to emphasize that in our country there would be a line of frontier on which there would be a fight in every area – adds Alicja Adwent. Her husband was concerned about the fate of the Polish land, farmers and architecture of the Polish village. In Stalowa Wola he met with workers. – He often emphasized that there was as much freedom as property. He warned against selling the land to foreigners. We talked about it many times – says bishop Frankowski.
Dr. Filip Adwent was an MP for the European Parliament only for a year, before in 2005 there was a tragic accident at Grójec. A truck coming from the opposite side, suddenly changed a lane and crashed into the car by which he was travelling with his relatives. Not only was this Polish doctor and euro-deputy killed in that accident, but also hi 19-year-old daughter Maria and parents. – I hope that despite passing years, among politicians governing currently, there will be people who will want to explain the circumstances of that accident – says Alicja Adwent.
Translated by Aneta Amrozik
Niedziela 29/2018 (22 VII 2018)