Poland President Andrzej Duda visited Bucks County on Sunday for the unveiling of a new monument, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, writes Charles Watson for 6abc.

The monument was commissioned by the Smolensk Disaster Commemoration Committee and is meant to honor those who fought for Polish independence against the communist movement that was backed by the Soviets following World War II. It was unveiled in the shrine cemetery.

“It’s great because it’s commemorating all the people who were fighting for freedom in Poland,” said Jacek Marczynski, vice president of the Polish American Congress. “They were supported by Reagan in the past in the 80’s and I really appreciate the idea of having this monument.”

Before the monument was unveiled, President Duda and his wife attended mass in the main church.

Former President Donald Trump was scheduled to attend the event as well, but his campaign announced that his appearance had been canceled.

The unveiling of the monument precedes the shrine’s 70th anniversary as a symbol of Polish American Catholicism.

Read more about Andrzej Duda’s visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa monument at 6abc.

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