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SSgt Michael H. Ollis Plaque

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Details:

Mounted to the left of the Cultural Centers main entrance.

Plaque

The plaque bears inscriptions in both Polish and English. Its header features the Polish and American flags, along with a medallion commemorating 250 Years of Polish-American Friendship. The medallion includes small portraits of Polish officers Tadeusz Kociuszko and Kazimierz Puaski, both of whom played important roles in the American Revolutionary War. The coat of arms of the local Krasocin municipality appears at the bottom of the plaque.

Source of photos: Gmina Krasocin / krasocin.com.pl

Monument Text:

CENTRUM KULTURY

IM. SIERZ. SZTAB. MICHAELA OLLISA 

,,NIE MA WIEKSZEJ MILOSCI, NIZ GDY KTOS ZYCIA SWOJE

ODDAJE ZA PRZYJACIÓL SWOICH''

 

W holdzie SSG MICHAELOWI OLLISOWI (1988-2013) z 10. Dywizji Górskiej Armii USA, który 28 sierpnia 2013 r. w Ghazni w Afganistanie dokonal czynu najwyzszej ofiarnosci.

W obliczu smiertelnego zagrozenia, bez wahania zaslonil wlasnym cialem syna tej ziemi - ppor. KAROLA CIERPICE z 6. Brygady Powietrznodesantowej.

Amerykanski zolnierz oddal zycie, by polski brat broni mógl wrócic do rodzinnego Oleszna. Ich wspólna walka pod flagami Polski i Stanów Zjednoczonych stala sie fundamentem nierozerwalnego braterstwa, które nie zna granic panstwowych. 

Niech to miejsce, noszace imie Michaela, bedzie dla kolejnych pokolen zywym zródlem inspiracji.

Niech uczy nas, ze prawdziwy patriotyzm to odwaga sluzenia innym, a najtrwalsze mosty buduje sie na fundamencie poswiecenia i wzajemnego szacunku.

 

CULTURAL CENTRE

NAMED AFTER STAFF SERGEANT

MICHAEL OLLIS

 

''GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE OTHER THAN THIS:

TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIENDS''

 

In tribute to SSG MICHAEL OLLIS (1988-2013) of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Ghazni, Afghanistan, on August 28, 2013.

Facing mortal danger, he unhesitatingly shielded a son of this land

- 2nd Lt KAROL CIERPICA of the 6th Airborne Brigade - with his own body.

 

An American soldier gave his life so that a Polish brother-in-arms could return

to his hometown of Oleszno. Their shared flight under the flags of Poland

and the United States became the foundation of an unbreakable brotherhood

that knows no borders.

May this place, bearing Michael's name, be a living source of inspiration for generations to come.

May it teach us that true patriotism lies in the courage to serve others,

and that the strongest bonds are built upon sacrifice and mutual respect.

 

BOHATEROM

WDZIECZNI MIESZKANCY OLEZNA I RZECZYPOSPOLITA POLSKA

 

TO THE HEROES THE GRATEFUL RESIDENTS

OF OLESZNO AND THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND

 

Oleszno, dn. 16 Wrzesnia 2026 r.

Oleszno, September 16, 2026

Commemorates:

People:

Michael Harold Ollis

Units:

10th Mountain Division

NATO

United States Army

Wars:

Afghanistan

Global War on Terrorism

Battles:

Operation Enduring Freedom

Other images :