This spring our first ever John Looney intern made a trip to
Poland to visit Polish relatives that she met through her
genealogy research to find her family heritage. On her month
long visit Ellen spent time with her family while also witnessing
first hand the refugee crisis stemming from the war on Ukraine.
Over 3.6 million Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Poland,
where they are receiving housing, medical care, education
and benefits or are departing to other destinations. Ellen
could see the long lines of Ukrainians waiting for services
around the city at government offices. Many Polish people
are hosting Ukrainians in their homes. A family of 13 people
were living at a neighbor’s home in the rural village of
Lubowidz, the ancestral home of Ellen’s family. Ellen’s
genealogy researcher was also hosting a Ukrainian mother
and her daughter.
Many donation drives were underway and logistics points were
arranged by the city of Warsaw to transport goods and emergency
supplies to the front lines. Near the Central Train Station in
Warsaw a memorial had been set up to honor victims killed in
the war. The beautiful spring weather and Easter celebrations
were tempered by the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, with
everyone concerned and shocked.
”Glory to Ukraine” was written on signs and banners around
the cities and Ukrainian flags were displayed along with Polish
flags on government buildings, homes and Warsaw’s tram
lines. Ellen plans to return regularly as long as the situation
in Poland remains stable.
Look for Pictures of Ellen’s travels in Poland on next month’s
blog post.
Poland to visit Polish relatives that she met through her
genealogy research to find her family heritage. On her month
long visit Ellen spent time with her family while also witnessing
first hand the refugee crisis stemming from the war on Ukraine.
Over 3.6 million Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Poland,
where they are receiving housing, medical care, education
and benefits or are departing to other destinations. Ellen
could see the long lines of Ukrainians waiting for services
around the city at government offices. Many Polish people
are hosting Ukrainians in their homes. A family of 13 people
were living at a neighbor’s home in the rural village of
Lubowidz, the ancestral home of Ellen’s family. Ellen’s
genealogy researcher was also hosting a Ukrainian mother
and her daughter.
Many donation drives were underway and logistics points were
arranged by the city of Warsaw to transport goods and emergency
supplies to the front lines. Near the Central Train Station in
Warsaw a memorial had been set up to honor victims killed in
the war. The beautiful spring weather and Easter celebrations
were tempered by the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, with
everyone concerned and shocked.
”Glory to Ukraine” was written on signs and banners around
the cities and Ukrainian flags were displayed along with Polish
flags on government buildings, homes and Warsaw’s tram
lines. Ellen plans to return regularly as long as the situation
in Poland remains stable.
Look for Pictures of Ellen’s travels in Poland on next month’s
blog post.
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