Lech Walesa unveils the Ronald Reagan statue

“Let’s bow to President Reagan that our generation managed to finish the era of  great divisions and conflicts” – had said Lech Wałęsa before he unveiled the statute of former President of USA. The 3,5-meter high monument of granite and bronze, founded on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Ronald Reagan, is standing in Aleje Ujazdowskie, vis a vis the US Embassy. The statute, that presents US president speaking from the rostrum, was founded by the Ronald Reagan Foundation. The Lech Walesa Institute supported the idea of building the monument and at the same time became the co-organizer of the ceremony.

The statue was created by Polish sculptor Władysław Dudek. The author was inspired by Ronald Reagan’s speech in 1987 at the Branderburg Gate in Berlin, and by his famous words: “ Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”.
The statue was unveiled by Lech Wałęsa. The ceremony was attended by former Prime Minister of Poland, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, vice Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, Mayor of city of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, as well as a group of US Senators including David Dreier. Letters from President Bronislaw Komorowski, President Barack Obama and Nancy Reagan were also read.

The statue is third such commemoration of Ronald Reagan in Europe.