Polish Ambassador honours northern Ont. veteran for his service during World War II

Hero is a name that gets thrown around a lot these days but if one were to look it up in the dictionary, you might find a picture of Julian Szary.

Poland born Julian Szary was honoured in Sudbury for his service during World War II with a medal presented by the Polish Ambassador, who made the trip from Ottawa to meet Szary. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)At 96-years-young, his wartime service resume reads more like a Hollywood script. He was a member of the Polish underground during World War II and was even caught a few times by the Germans – through it all – Szary fought for freedom.

"We gather here today for a special Polish-Canadian celebration, we are honouring Mr. Julian Szary, a patriate and combatant, who provides us with an example in our search for civic virtues,” said Polish Ambassador Witold Dzielski, who made the trip from Ottawa for the recognition.

“We recognize his involvement in fighting for the freedom of Poland, preserving Polish traditions and as a loyal citizen, building and strengthening his new home in Canada."

Based on the decision of the prime minister, the nation honoured him with a medal of distinction that was created in 2018. The medal recognizes the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence.

"As a member of NATO and the European Union, we have become and remain a provider of security for the region of Central and Eastern Europe. This is why Poland has been such a strong leader in support of Ukraine,” said the ambassador to the crowd.

“We stood strong in explaining to the world why we need to aid the Ukrainians in the fight for freedom and democracy. Our history teaches us that we should not stand idle while aggressive, hateful regimes break international law, murder civilians including children and introduce terror. Poles have seen too much of that in our history”

Perhaps, no one is a bigger testament to that than Szary himself – being a man of few words, it is hard to say what horrors he may have seen.

He sat stoically, quiet and listened as Dzielski and other dignitaries paid tribute to him and his other compatriots at the Polish Combatants Hall in Sudbury.

"There are less and less of Polish veterans that we have in Canada," Dzielski told CTV News.

"For Poland, it's always a special occasion. Polish history is filled with people fighting for independence, democracy, freedom and he participated, Julian Szary participated in defending Poland in 1939 against the Germans and so during the Second World War – and the Second World War is a time where Poland lost six million people in fighting against the oppressors, both Germans and Russians at the time.”

Polish Ambassador Witold Dzielski made the trip from Ottawa to Sudbury to honour Julian Szary with a medal in honour of his service during World War II and his contributions to Poland's independence. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)Dzielski said the history at that time is a very strong element of the Polish identity – for this reason people like Julian Szary are very much celebrated in Poland.

"This even is obviously very, very special to him,” said Michael Slawny, Szary’s friend and a fellow veteran.

“It's very special to us and we're very glad that the government of the Republic of Poland and many other agencies have recognized the service that Julian Szary made to Canada and made to us all."

Michael Slawny, a friend of Julian Szary and a fellow veteran, was on hand at the ceremony to honour and support Szary. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontrio)

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Szary relocated to Canada in the 1950s to work in the mines and has been a member of the Polish Combatants ever since.

The club’s president, George Arniol, spoke of a proud history that helped to shape the Greater Sudbury's west-end community and how they are working even now to keep that memory alive with fewer members.

"That's why we march," Arniol said.

"For people to somehow be a part of this, I would say tradition or country. We feel like we're brothers in arms at the Royal Canadian Legion."

One-by-one, other dignitaries in the room came up to the podium to toast Szary and his contributions.

Viviane Lapointe presented Julian Szary him with a certificate of congratulations from the Government of Canada for his service and the Polish honours he received along with a letter from the prime minister himself. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe presented him with a certificate of congratulations from the government and a letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"I'm just so proud and pleased and honoured that you came and chose Canada and Sudbury to come and settle here," Lapointe said, in her speech to Szary.

In this era of renewed aggression and a war in Europe and with losing more of our World War II veterans with each passing year, ceremonies like this have taken on a very significant role.

"On the one side, it's great that there hasn't been a World War III and that we don't have veterans from that but you know recognizing the sacrifices that they made and in Poland, recognizing the sacrifices that Julian made for his country and for the end of the war and it's just amazing,” said Sudbury MPP Jamie West.

“We're lucky to have someone like that here."

Sudbury MPP Jamie West also paid tribute to Julian Szary's service and contributions to Poland. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)“It's the same problem we're facing with the Legion and the Polish Combatants and that but we have promised we will remember," said Sudbury's Deputy Mayor Al Sizer.

"We're so fortunate that Mr. Szary came to Canada and was able to contribute so much to Sudbury."

Dzielski said there are a few veterans across Ontario approaching the 100 year mark.

He said he is hopeful he can be back here in Sudbury to celebrate with Szary when he marks another year, recognizing a man that not only served but fought for the freedom enjoyed today. 

Numerous dignitaries attended the event and toasted Julian Szary and his contributions to freedom we all now enjoy. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)