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On Saturday April 10th Poland was devastated by the tragic death of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife First Lady Maria Kaczynska and many other influential members of Poland, in Smolensk, Russia. The president and his wife along with 94 other passengers on a plane were headed to Russia for a Katyn commemoration ceremony when the plane crashed not far from Smolensk Airport.  No one survived.

This plane crash was so tragic because not only did President Kaczynski and his wife die, but many other political and military leaders of Poland lost their lives as well.

.  Poland’s last president in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski (the government of Poland after the country had been occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union),

.  Former defense minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski,

.  Head of the Presidential Chancellery Wladyslaw Stasiak,

.  Presidential spokesman Pawel Wypych,

.  Secretary of State Mariusz Handzlik,

.  Head of the Law and Justice Party in parliament Przemyslaw Gosiewski, MP Zbigniew Wassermann and Bishop Tadeusz Płoski.

.  Head of the Institute of National Remembrance Janusz Kurtyka,

.  Head of the Polish National Bank Slawomir Skrzypek,

.  Security officers of the President also perished.

When I woke up that morning my host mom asked me to come downstairs and watch the news with her.  They were scanning through literally 40 or 50 channels all covering the plane crash.  Today, a week after the event all the news channels are still talking about the victims’ lives, their funerals, and investigations.  TV channels display black ribbons with the televisions logo.

That evening, I took a 12 hour bus ride to Kraków for a Rotary conference.  In almost every city center we passed, you could see small piles of flowers and groups of lanterns beside pictures of President Lech Kaczynski and his wife First Lady Maria Kaczynska.

Over the course of the past few days these piles grew into mounds all around Poland. Countless minutes of silence have been held for all the lives lost on the plane, many stores closed or shortened their hours, and numerous Polish citizens showed their national pride and respect by hanging Polish Flags on the homes with a black ribbon attached.

President Kaczynski’s body was returned to Warsaw, Poland on Sunday April 11^th to the presidential palace to lie in state.  His wife’s body joined his in the palace on Tuesday the 13^th.

The funeral for President Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynski will be held today.  Poland has come together at this time of sadness to mourn the leaders of this country.  Throughout Poland are signs of respect for all who have been lost. However with the decision to bury the couple tomorrow at the Wawel Castle in Kraków, Poland has split its national unity.

Many people don’t agree with this decision saying that President Kaczynski doesn’t deserve to be buried with Poland’s most honored kings and generals.

Certain Poles think Mr. Kaczynski was not an extraordinary man. Just before his death, he was considered by many to be the worst Polish president since 1989. His odds of re-election later this year were minimal. But now he is thought of as a national hero.

Most people seem to agree that he is considered a hero not because of all that he has done but because he died in Katyn forest.  In April 1940, Soviet troops shot and killed about 22,000 Polish officers in that same location.

A big reason for their trip to Smolensk, Russia was to solve this chapter of Polish history. They intended to obtain information of which Poland has waited many years.  This misfortune just opened a whole new door to Poland’s tragedies.

As of now most people want answers.  Many find it suspicious that many of Poland’s important officials died in the same spot as the Katyn victims.  Others see this as a tragic coincidence.  All in all, Poland is still in a state of shock and in mourning for the lost lives.

There will be elections within the next 60 days.  Many of those who had been considered candidates for the regular Presidential election were also on board the aircraft.

The Polish people are united to rebuild the country and are keeping it running through this dreadful disaster.

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