For photographs and films taken by Rebeka Zalisz of the opening ceremony click the pictures
The Anthems and part speech of František
Dr Jozef Rodák Military Historian and friend Svidník
Waldemar Półchłopek Historian Director of the Historic Museum in Dukla
A selection of photographs by Jaroslav Mojžíš
On Saturday 14th September 2019 at 12 noon 100 people gathered around the Memorial to František Josef Geisler in Pastwiska to pay tribute to his name, commemorate his memory and to witness the opening of the museum in his name. The Memorial received an honour guard of four of the reenactment group Klub vojenskej histórie Svoboda from Košice dressed and armed in the original uniforms and equipment of the 2nd Czechoslovak Parachute Brigade.
We listened to the Anthems of the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and the Republic of Poland played hauntingly on accordion and clarinet by our friends from the Music School in Rymanów followed by the laying of red roses and flowers on the Memorial.
Then Barbara and I welcomed:-
From Warsaw the Czech Defence Attaché Colonel Jiří Pudil and his deputy
From Slovakia Dr Jozef Rodák my friend of 27 years, Colonel Juraj Drotar representing the Czechoslovak Veterans Association, Jan Holodńák my friend the former mayor of Svidník
Peter Žoffčak and Ondrej Varga and others of the Re-
From Poland Waldemar Półchłopek Historian Director of the Historic Museum in Dukla and his assistant Aleksandra Żółkoś
Magdelena Gajewska Wojt Gminy Zarszyn
Mariusz Bałaban Wojt Gminy Besko
Wojciech Farbaniec Mayor Rymanów
Dawid Siwik Sołtys Pastwiska
From Olomouc cousins family Holčík
From Prague our friends family Štibingr
From Brno our friends families Mojžíš, Gregor and Wiecek
From UK our friends family Pavel
From Poland our many family and friends
It was regretted that His Excellency Ivan Jestřáb Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Poland was unable to be in attendance due to ambassadorial commitments elsewhere. Further that through ill health Professor Zoë Klusákova-
I then made the following speech translated by Barbara:-
75 years ago on the 18th September at approximately 9.30 in the morning my father František Josef Geisler was killed 150 metres from this place where we stand and 25 years ago on the 50th anniversary of his death this Memorial was erected and then moved to this new position 2 years ago.
His thoughts of his homeland were always with him during the years of German occupation and soon after he left Czechoslovakia he wrote this in his diary on the 22nd February 1940
Much stronger than all this is the desire for my home
but what a home that suffer in enslavement,
enslavement is much worse than death,
freedom is more precious than death.
Today we reflect on his words and honour his memory by remembering his life from birth to death in the exhibition housed here and I shall repeat what I said 25 years ago………for nothing changes…………..
We are here in Pastwiska to remember
A soldier of Czechoslovakia
A son
A husband
A brother
A friend
My father…….František Josef Geisler
who left his country in 1939 and so nearly returned.
We stand in this field only 15 kilometres from his homeland, where in the late summer of 1944 the battle commenced to free Czechoslovakia. 75 years ago on the 18th September 1944 whilst pushing south to the frontier, František Geisler was killed in the field over there leading his troops into battle. He was laid to rest close to this place by his friend Jan Flax and others.
In the presence of those who loved him and his parents…..…...I dedicate this Exhibition to František Geisler …...….…………..the father I never knew…......but the father I have now found.
We remember him
The guests then moved to the front of the museum to listen to talks by Dr Jozef Rodák and Waldemar Półchłopek
After which the museum was formally opened on behalf of His Excellency Ivan Jestřáb Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Poland by Colonel Jiří Pudil in cutting the ribbon with Barbara and myself.
With the museum open the exhibition was then visited by everyone before adjourning to the reception and dinner.
František and Barbara Geisler
14th September 2019
