Polish survivors of Auschwitz remember first day of WW II

Ridgewood, N.Y. … Polish Catholic survivors of Auschwitz, Walter Kolodziejek and Michael Preisler ( 3rd and 4th from left) were guests of honor at this year’s commemoration of the anniversary of the start of World War II. A memorial mass remembering Hitler’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 was held at St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood, N.Y. Joining the former Auschwitz officials of the Polish American Congress which initiated the observance of the anniversary 15 years ago. Shown with Mr. Kolodziejek and Mr. Preisler are (from left) Frank Milewski, president of the Downstate N.Y. Division of the Congress and Rev. Vlad Kubrak, vicar at St. Matthias.

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Msgr. Edward Scharfenberger (center right), pastor of St. Matthias Church welcomed Auschwitz survivors and officials of the Polish American Congress at the reception which followed the religious observance.