SPRINGFIELD, Ill., - Army Maj. Gen. Willliam L. Enyart, the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard, offered condolences to the Polish people on the loss of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who along with the country's armed service chiefs, died in a plane crash on April 10. His statement follows:
“On behalf of the 13,000 men and women of the Illinois National Guard, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the Polish people on the loss of their Commander-in-Chief, President Lech Kaczynski, and several of their military’s finest officers.
"Through our State Partnership Program with Poland, my wife and I had the honor of meeting with President Kaczynski. He was a truly great man and will be missed by Poland, and the people of the world, as a defender of democracy and freedom.
"Illinois National Guard Soldiers are in Afghanistan serving with a Polish brigade today and have served with Polish forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan for many years. Since our SPP program started in 1993, the Illinois Guard has developed many close friendships with Polish forces.
"Today, we mourn the loss of Poland’s Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, Gen. Franciszek Gagor; Polish Air Forces Commander, Lt. Gen. Andrzej Blasik; Commander of Polish Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Tadeusz Buk; Polish Special Forces Commander, Maj. Gen. Wlodzimierz Potasinski; Polish Armed Forces Bishop, Bishop (Maj. Gen.) Tadeusz Ploski; Polish Navy Commander, Adml. Andrzej Karweta; Warsaw Garrison Commander, Gen. bryg. Kazimierz Gilarski; Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, Gen. Bronislaw Kwiatkowski; and Archbishop of the Military Ordinariate of Poland (Brig. Gen.) Miron Chodokowski.
"I knew most of these men personally and was blessed to consider them friends and colleagues. Several of my troops served under these officers in combat and will forever be grateful for their inspired leadership.
"Today, the Illinois National Guard is in mourning for these men as well as all the civilian leaders lost in this tragedy. We forge ahead knowing that the legacy of these great men and women will continue to guide us.”