Jagna Wright (Nee Rafp)Memorial

Born: 15th July 1950, Gdynia, Poland

Passed Away: 16th June 2007, London, England

Wright, Jagna (nee Rapf ), beloved wife of Stephen Wright and mother of Jamie, Sophie and Peter died peacefully, at home, on 16 June. She was adored by her family and her great circle of friends. In spite of being diagnosed with cancer in 2001, she and Aneta Naszynska produced two wonderful films on Polish history, which have been seen, and celebrated, worldwide. This work helped give her the remarkable energy and fortitude with which she fought her long illness.

Jagna’s VisionPoem by Hania Kaczanowska, Canada

She had a vision and they said no one wanted to knowHer passion for truth was inspired from lives of long agoA piece of substantial history was being conveniently overlookedExposing the closed chapters she became immediately hooked

In her homeland communists suppressed the story at their bestBut her surprise was how little about it was known in the westPeople packed into freezing boxcars with the barest to surviveThru frost, disease and hunger many were no longer alive

Her native Poles deported and banished to inhuman Siberian landsHow this could be forgotten, after war, she couldn’t understandThe Siberian exiles were dwindling fast and remained very fewSo she set out a vigilant course to see what she could do

She captured their wonderful stories and filmed them in tearsAnd released the memories of bondage, hidden for yearsAmongst the pain and suffering their survival became the keyFor a country wrapped in chains and those who were now free

With the war finally over these courageous people gently treadTo all corners of the earth in search of freedom and breadTo speak of their turbulent past many were just too afraid and proudBut in silence they relived their anguish and secretly wept out loud

Memories were reminders of loss and being lost as they prayedAnd surviving Poles still felt abandoned, forgotten and betrayedWhat better place than London to learn the chivalry of a knightAnd the “God of Exiles” picked a soldier in one feisty Jagna Wright

This unveiling of truth and tragedy pulled at Jagna’s inner coreShe sought out her messengers so the story would not be ignoredShe knew in bringing forth one story of truth a burden is liftedAnd agreed a listening ear does not belong to the gifted

She carefully documented their passionate, suffering tales of sorrowBinding the odysseys together so not forgotten tomorrowThe exiles had been deported from Poland in hopes of their demiseBut she refused to let history forget about these thousands of lives

Delving into the past reawakened within her a new lightAnd she was often asked, “Who cares about the Polish plight?”She replied whimsically: ”Better a film exists than one not!”And in defiance cooed “May Churchill’s Polish curse forever rot!”

Infectious, determined and bound to touch the world with her storyShe armoured herself like a valiant soldier off to victorious gloryThere’s always one more experience that would appeal to the causeJust tell the story…just tell it like it was

With weapons of patience and tenacious zeal she went into actionAs finally recognition of the wartime tragedy brought satisfactionWith friend Aneta, her comrade in arms, the canons fired awayTogether they pushed open media doors and got to have their say

When there was no platform, Jagna invited people under her roofShe showed the story in countless films with voices of living proofBut this would be just the first little hill she conquered with zestA courageous fight with cancer would be another merciless test.

She pushed the obvious aside and like a heroine fought her illnessWhilst surrounded by those on the other side watching in stillnessPerhaps their fighting sprits and patriotism pushed her everydayWhether alone or guided by the exiles, she slowly carved her way

There was another story to set right and time was not on her sideMany Jews had long blamed Poles and too many truths were deniedShe tried to bridge the gap between the survivors and the blamedAnd proved that all words written were not as once were claimed

The other truth was completed before the dust blew off her wingsAnd her victories forever recorded in the land of castles and kingsShe laid to rest her mission complete and a legacy of patriotic prideAnd her passions for the homeland were shared by us worldwide

The day came to an end for the Exile’s Polish angel with a halo of lightAs voices beckoned to earth “ It’s time to come home, Jagna Wright”Her spirit and efforts were carried by voices of those who died beforeVoices of the ones who could not come home from Siberia or the war

It is without doubt that she was welcomed home and most joyfully metBy each of those that she passionately begged the world not to forgetAs you take your place amongst the truly courageous who inspired youMay the presence of your vivid eternal light always be within our view

Your relentless energy will be our guide as your vision we carry onRest in the arms of sweet slumber Jagna, until you greet another dawn

“ Spij koleżanko w ciemnym grobie. Niech się Polska przyśni tobie”Sleep my friend and in the darkness of your grave may Poland come to you in dreams.

Last words of a song commonly used for Polish soldiers who died and were buried on foreign land without seeing Poland again.

Pansies and moonflowers painted for Jagna by Hania Kaczanowska

Jagna Wright …Her enthusiasm was infectious

By Aneta Naszynska

IremembermyfirstmeetingwithJagna.WemetatherhomeinordertodiscussafilmprojectwhichIwastohelpheredit.Shegreetedmewithahugewarmsmile,andimmediatelyplungedintoalong,animatedandengagingconversation.Andsoitwasforthenexttenyoursofourcollaboration. Jagnawaspassionateandherenthusiasmwastotallyinfectious.ShemanagedtoaccommodaterunningahomeandbringingupthreechildrenwithherpassionforPolishcultureandhistory.ShewasinterestedinthemissingchapterofEuropeanHistory,ineventsandpeoplethathadbeenrubbedoutofpopularmemory.Inparticular,shebelievedthatthestoryofthedeportationof1.7millionPolesbyStalinintothedepthsofRussiain1940mustbetold.

ForfiveyearsJagnatriedtogetabroadcasterorTVproductioncompanyinterested.Theyallturnedherdown,explainingthatnoonewasinterestedintheSecondWorldWaranymore.Theyunderestimatedherdetermination. Jagnadidnotgiveup,andrelentlesslycontinuedtophoneandwriteletters.Buttimewasrunningout,andwhensherealisedthatthenumberofwitnesseswasdwindlingfast,Jagnaboughtacameraand,withnopriorfilmexperience,beganrecordingthetragictestimonyofformerPolishSiberianexiles. Andthatishowwecametomeet.Fortwoyears,inoursparetime,weeditedthefilmwhichnoonewanted.Longafteritwasfinished,“TheForgottenOdyssey”remainedunseenandunknown(apartfromprivateshowings,usuallyinherhome).Jagnawouldsay,‘betterafilmthatexiststhanonethatdoesnot’.ShejokedthatChurchillhadputacurseonusbecauseoftheignobleBritishroleinthischapterofhistory. Finally,aftercountlesslettersandphonecalls,Churchilllost.TheHistoryChannelUKboughtthefilm,followedbyseveralotherbroadcasters. “TheForgottenOdyssey”filledahugegap.Iwillneverforgettheemotiononthefacesofformerdeporteeswhowouldcomeuptousafter

seeingthefilmtoexpresstheirgratitudethattheyhadnotbeen“deported”outofhistory.Fortheirchildren,thefilmwasoftentheonlyopportunitytolearnabouttheirparents’tragic

story,somethingwhichtheirparentshadoftenbeenunwilling,orscaredto,speakabout.Inspired

bythefilm,StefanWisniowski,thesonofadeporteelivinginAustralia,createdaninternetchatroom

“Kresy–Siberia”.Jagnaparticipatedinthediscussionsenthusiastically,sharingwithallherwealthofknowledgeonthesubject.Weimmediatelybeganournextfilmproject.

“TheOtherTruth”,athreepartdocumentaryaboutPolish–Jewishrelations,istheresultoffouryearsofpainstakingwork.Bythistime,Jagnawasillwithcancer,butdidnotchangeherpaceoflife.

Inbetweenfrequentvisitstohospitalsandconsultants,shecontinuedtowork,torunherhome,entertainguestsandtobeginwritingabook

usingthewealthofresearchmaterialshehadgatheredduringthefilmingof“TheOtherTruth”.Sadly,thebookremainsunfinished. JagnawasatirelessproponentofPolishculture.AnyBritishjournalistwhoshowedtheslightestinterestinPolandwastobetargetted,encouragedandinformed.Shesentthemherfilm,gavethembooks,andinvitedthemintoherhometowinthemover,asshesaid,‘throughthestomachtotheheart’. Forme,aboveall,Jagnawasatruefriend.Sheknewhowtolisten,tosympathise,tohelpandadvise.Shehadfriendseverywhere.HerwarmandhospitablehomeinActonwasfulleachsummerwithguestsfromallcornersoftheworld. Iadoredherspontaneityandloveofadventure.Once,duringoneofourlonglateeveningsinthecuttingroom,ImentionedTibet.Afewmonthslaterwewereonourway.Later,thisTibetanjourneywouldgiveherthe

innerstrengthtofighthercancer. Jagnadidnotgiveup.Ineverysituationshetriedtofindthepositiveside,evencomfortingtheconsultantswhoweremonitoringtheprogressofherillness.Shewouldoftensay‘ineverypuddleyoucanfindascrapofbluesky’.Shefoughtbravelyandnevercomplained.Thecancerdestroyedherphysicallybutitdidnotdefeather. Jagnaleavesawonderfullegacyandavastnumberofcloseandsorrowingfriends.Wewillmissherenormously.ButformanyofuswhoarefromthePolandshelovedsomuch,herdetermination,spiritandthatinfectiousenthusiasmare,andwillcontinuetobe,aninspiration.

How I Met Jagna Wright By Stefan Wisniowski, Sydney, Australia

Thisisfrommyhistorywrittenin2002forourfirstgroupanniversary(fileonourwebsite):Throughthepowerofe-mail,bySeptember2001,agroupofaboutadozenpeoplehademergedasthenucleusofamailinglist.Atthesametime,Ihadstumbledacrossthenewfilm“AForgottenOdyssey”inaRussianpressarticle,whichhadbeentranslatedintoPolishbyWladyslawCzapskiandpostedonhiswebsite.Aftersomedetectiveworktrackingdowntheproducer,JagnaWright,throughtheBBC,ItalkedherintoanAustralianscreeningtocoincidewiththeSeptember17anniversaryofSovietaggression.Thisinitialarrangementhasledtoabout50screeningsincitiesaroundtheworld,facilitatedbydozensoflocalPolishactiviststowhomIamdeeplygratefulfortheiradoptionofthiscause. Alsoseehttp://www.pcaaa.org/docs/AFO-AtlantaBrochure-050413.pdf.

ThisisJagna’sownversionofthehistory:WestartedwithtwopublicshowingsinLondonin2001,attheInstituteofContemporaryArtsandattheImperialWarMuseum(thelattersponsoredbythePolishAmbassador,DrStanislawKomorowski).Then,severalarticlesintheBritishpressaswellasmentionsontheBBCradiogradually,buteffectively,startedbreakingthewallofsilencearoundthissubject.Finallyon17thSeptember2001,theanniversaryoftheSovietinvasionofPoland,weachievedour

originalgoalofhavingthefilmscreenedontelevision,ontheBritishHistoryChannelandonChannelOneofPolishTelevision. However,theunbelievablefactthatwehavenowvisitedNorthAmericatwicetopresentourfilmwastheresultofsomethingweneverbargainedfor–thedeepneedofthe“secondgeneration”ofthePoles,sonsanddaughtersoftheSiberiansurvivors,tolearntheirroots,andtodojusticetotheirparents’andgrandparents’memories. ThefilmwentglobalbecauseapairofRussianjournalists,ZhenyaandSashaDonde,sawthefilminLondonandputoutstoriesonitontheBBCWorldService,inRussian,andintheRussiannewspaper“NovoyeVremya”.ThestorywasspottedinPolandbyWladyslawCzapski,aSiberiansurvivor,whotranslateditintoPolishandputonhiswebsite.This,inturn,waschanceduponbyStefanWisniowski,thesonofaSiberiansurvivorlivinginSydney,Australia,whotrackedusdownandaskedforavideocassette. Thatturnedouttobearealbreakthrough,andfruitsofhisenthusiasmandpassionweresoonborneoutwithapublicshowinginSydney’sStateLibraryofNewSouthWales.Buildingonthatsuccessfulscreening,StefancampaignedamongstPolishémigréorganisationstotakeontheprojectofspreadingthisstorythroughouttheWesternworld.ThroughhisKresy-Siberiainternetnetworkinspiredbythefilm,volunteerscameforwardtosetupscreeningsindozensofcitiesinAustralia,NewZealand,CanadaandtheUSA.”

Kresy-SiberiaGroupDedicatedtoresearching,rememberingandrecognisingthePolishcitizensdeported,enslavedandkilledbytheSovietUnion

duringWorldWar2

Condolencesfromthekresy-siberiainternetgroup

Deargroupmembers IregrettoinformyouoftheverysadnewsthatourdearfriendJagnaWrightdiedatherhomeinLondononSaturdayafterasix-yearbattlewithcancer.ThefamilywillconductaprivatefuneralandplanstoorganiseapublicmemorialserviceintheAutumn. Asyoumayknow,Jagnawastheco-producer,withherfriendAnetaNaszynska,ofthedocumentaryfilm“AForgottenOdyssey”whichinspiredthefoundationoftheKresy-SiberiaGroupin2001.JagnahadanindomitablespiritthatdrovehertoproducethisfilmagainsttheoddsandthenhaveitscreenedfirstattheImperialWarMuseuminEngland,theninscoresofmajorcitiesaroundtheworld,ontheHistoryChannelandonothertelevisionbroadcastsaroundtheworldinbothEnglishandPolish.ShealsodistributedcountlesscopiesonvideotapeandDVDthroughher

website,www.AForgottenOdyssey.com.JagnaandAnetawentontoproduceasecondfilm,“TheOtherTruth”,whichshedslightonanotherlesser-knownaspectofPolishhistory-thepositivesideofPolishandJewishrelationsinPoland. JagnagrewupincommunistPoland.Hergrandfather,ZygmuntOsuchowski,wasajudgefromZloczownearLwowwhowasdeportedtoSiberiaalongwithhissister’sfamilyfromKrakow.TheysurvivedandwereevacuatedfromSovietcaptivitywithAndersarmyin1942.Jagna’sparentsmanagedtoescapethedeportationsandfoughtinHomeArmy(ArmjaKrajowa)duringthewar.ShewasbroughtupamongstexilesfromtheLwowarea,eitherformerdeporteesor,likeherparents,peoplewholosteverythingovertherebutwhoneverstoppedlovingtheirrealhome.SheleftPolandin1977aftermarryingherEnglishhusband,settlinginLondonandraisingthreechildren.

Jagnaleavesbehindherlovingfamily,herdedicatedfilmpartnerAneta,andagrowinggroupofpeoplearoundtheworldwhohavehertothankforbringingthemtogethertoresearch,rememberandrecognisethe“ForgottenOdyssey”oftheirfamilies.Sheisaherotoourcauseandshewillbegreatlymissed.

Stefan Wisniowski, Sydney, Australia

A Forgotten OdysseyAnepicofhumancourageofsurvivorsoftheSovietforcedlabourcamps

“OneofthemostdisturbingdocumentariesIhaveeverseen.”Richard Morrison, The Times, London

Basia and Farynka Sgrunowski on the train to Krasnovodzk, 23 March 1942 (private archives of Zofia Jordanowska – courtesy of VideoFact).

Historical Notes

Atlanta, 13 April 2005

Compiled by Stefan Wisniowski, Sydney, Australia (2001)

and with thanks to Art Wagner, Detroit, USA (2002)

ProducedundertheauspicesoftheAssociationofSiberianDeporteesInAustralia

WiththankstothePolishArtsFoundationandtheThirdCarpathianDivisioninLondon

www.AForgottenOdyssey.comwww.feniks.net

Writtenanddirectedby Producedby

EditedbyMusicby

JagnaWrightJagnaWrightandAnetaNaszynskaSebastianKrajewskiAnetaNaszynska

London-basedJagnaWright’sfilm,“AForgottenOdyssey”,isthestory-astoldbythesurvivors-ofwhathappenedaftertheSovietinvasionofPolandon17September1939undertheNazi-SovietFriendshipTreaty.

ThesearethestoriesofthesurvivorsoftheforcedSovietannexationofeasternPoland,whenentiretownsandcommunitieswerebrutallydeportedtoSiberiaandKazakhstantoSovietforcedlabourcamps.BythetimetheNazisattackedtheirSovietalliesin1941,perhapshalfofthelabourcampinmateshaddiedfromdisease,starvation,andtheharshlabourconditions. BecausetheSovietswerebroughtintotheanti-NaziAlliance,theremainingsurvivorsweregivenanamnestyandmanymadetheirwayacrossthevastandforebodingSovietlandscapetojointhefreedPolishArmybeingformedinthesouth.ThisarmybecameakeyelementoftheAlliedforcesintheEuropeanSouth-East,andwasevacuatedthoughIrantojointhebattlewiththeNazisinAfricaandItaly.

However,despitethedefeatoftheNazis,Poland’sSovietenemiesendedthewaronthesideofthevictors.The116,000citizensandsoldierswhohadescapedfromSovietRussiawentontoberefugeesfromapre-warPolandwhocouldneverreturnhometotheirformerhomeland,whichwasleftinSovietCommunisthandsafterthewar.

TheirForgottenOdysseyneverreacheditsdestination,andtheyremainedapeopleinexilethroughouttheworld.

Polish Women and Children on the Soviet

border with Iran (Courtesy of Chris Gladun)

A message from the film-makers ThefilmwasmadewiththeaimofsavinganimportanthistoricalepisodeoftheSecondWorldWarfromoblivion.

Itwasbynomeansanepisodewhichcanbeseenasinsignificant;afterallitinvolvedanestimated1.7millionpeople,andthehumansufferingwhichtheyexperiencedwasimmeasurable–andyet,noWesternhistorybooksmentionthisordeal,andnopoliticianshonoritsvictimsintheirspeechescommemoratingWorldWar2.Televisionchannelshadnointerestincommissioningthefilmaboutit,onthegroundsthatthey“hadalreadycoveredthisperiodinhistoryextensively”,and“thepublicwastiredofthesubjectofWorldWar2.”

InthewordsofaRussianJournalist,PolesdeportedbyStalintoRussiawerethendeportedfromhistorybyWesternhistorians.Thisissurelyverywrong.TheaccountsoftheSecondWorldWararesimplyincompletewithoutthisneglectedhistoricaltragedy.

Wemadethisfilmtorescuethis“forgottenodyssey”fromturningintoan“odysseythatneverwas”.Webelievedthat,despiteitbeingmadewithnoprofessionalorfinancialbackup,thestrengthofthesurvivors’testimonieswouldmoveatleastsomepeopletohelpbringthisstorytolight.WebelievedthatmakingthisstoryknowntotheWesternworldwas

Polish orphans in Uzbekistan, 1942

(Courtesy of Tadeusz Dobrostanski)

amatterofhistoricalandmoraljustice.Webelievedthateventuallywewouldfindsomeonewhowouldseebeyondthetechnicalimperfectionsofthefilm,purelyonthestrengthofthepowerfulandmovingtestimoniesofthesurvivorsoftheordealinStalin’shands.

WestartedwithtwopublicshowingsinLondonin2001,attheInstituteofContemporaryArtsandattheImperialWarMuseum(thelattersponsoredbythePolishAmbassador,DrStanislawKomorowski).Then,severalarticlesintheBritishpressaswellasmentionsontheBBCradiogradually,buteffectively,startedbreakingthewallofsilencearoundthissubject.Finallyon17thSeptember2001,theanniversaryoftheSovietinvasionofPoland,weachievedouroriginalgoalofhavingthefilmscreenedontelevision,ontheBritishHistoryChannelandonChannelOneofPolishTelevision.

However,theunbelievablefactthatwewereabletocometoAmericatopresentourfilmwastheresultofsomethingweneverbargainedfor–thedeepneedofthe“secondgeneration”ofthePoles,sonsanddaughtersoftheSiberiansurvivors,tolearntheirroots,andtodojusticetotheirparents’andgrandparents’memories.

ThefilmwentglobalbecauseapairofRussianjournalists,ZhenyaandSashaDonde,sawthefilminLondonandputoutstoriesonitontheBBCWorldService,inRussian,andintheRussiannewspaper“NovoyeVremya”.ThestorywasspottedinPolandbyWladyslawCzapski,aSiberiansurvivor,whotranslateditintoPolishandputonhiswebsite.This,inturn,waschanceduponbyStefanWisniowski,thesonofaSiberiansurvivorlivinginSydney,Australia,whotrackedusdownandaskedforavideocassette.

Polish Children, Pahlavi, Iran (Persia),

about 1942 (Courtesy of Tadeusz

Dobrostanski)

Thatturnedouttobearealbreakthrough,andfruitsofhisenthusiasmandpassionweresoonborneoutwithapublicshowinginSydney’sStateLibraryofNewSouthWales.Buildingonthatsuccessfulscreening,StefancampaignedamongstPolishémigréorganisationstotakeontheprojectofspreadingthisstorythroughouttheWesternworld.ThroughhisKresy-Siberiainternetnetworkinspiredbythefilm,volunteerscameforwardtosetupscreeningsindozensofcitiesinAustralia,NewZealand,CanadaandtheUSA.

WewouldespeciallyliketothanktheorganizerofthisscreeninginAtlanta,Dr.ElzbietaGurtler-Krawczynska.WededicatethisfilmtoallthosewhosurvivedtheordealintheSoviethands,andtoyourlovedones,whomyouleftburiedinthe“inhumanland”.

Jagna Wright and Aneta Naszynska

The Soviet tanker Zdanov, bound for

Iran with Polish refugees who were glad

to leave Soviet persecution (Courtesy of

Chris Gladun) Jagna Wright and Aneta

Naszynska

Where The Film Has Been Shown

UNITEDKINGDOMGlasgow,London,Manchester.

TV:‘TheHistoryChannel’

AUSTRALASIAAdelaideSA,BrisbaneQld,CanberraAct,MelbourneVic,NewcastleNSW,PerthWA,SidneyNSW,Russel:BayOfIslands;Auckland,Wellington

CANADACalgaryAB,EdmontonAB,HamiltonON,KitchenerON,LondonON,Mississauga[Toronto]ON,MontrealQC,NiagaraFallsON,OshawaON,OttawaON,PeterboroughON,St.CatherinesON,TorontoON,VancouverBC.

TV:‘TheHistoryChannel’

UNITEDSTATESAnneArborMI,AtlantaGA,Baltimore-Washington,Boston,BridgeportCT,BuffaloNY,BuffaloPBSTV,ChicagoIL,ChicagoPBSTV,ChicopeeMA,ClevelandOH,NewBritainCONN,DavisCA,DenverCO,DetroitMI,DetroitMI,[anotherexhibitionsomewhereelse],Franklin[Suburbof

Milwaukee]WI,GrandRapidsMI,Hartford/MilfordCT,Houston,LosAnglesCA,MiamiFL,MilwaukeePBSTVWMYS,MinneapolisMN,NewYorkNY,SanDiegoCA,SanFranciscoCA,St.ClairShoresMI,ToledoOH,WashingtonDC.

TV:PBS

JointheKresy-Siberiainternetdiscussiongroup

Ifyouareinterestedin“research,remembranceandrecognition”ofthisodyssey,pleasejoin

theinternetdiscussiongroupat

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kresy-Siberia

Antoni Kazimierski, London, UK

Wearesaddenedbythenewsyouposted.WewouldliketoaskJagna’sfamilytoacceptourcondolences.Assomeofusknowshesufferedgreatlyinthelastdaysofherlife.Nowsheisatpeace.GodBlessHer. ItiswithgratitudethatIwishtorememberJagna’slifeandexpressmyadmirationforherworkwithAnetaNaszyńskainmakingthefilms‘AForgottenOdyssey’and‘TheOtherTruth’.ThefirstfilmrecordsthedeportationsofPolishpeopletoSiberiaandthehardshipstheyencountered;thesecondisadocumentaryaimedatrebuttingslursaboutPolish–Jewishrelations. IspoketoJagnaonjustafewoccasionsandIrecollectoneparticularinstance:itwastodowithherintentiontopreparetheseconddocumentary.AnEditorfromoneofthenewspapersfromCaliforniacontactedmeaskingtofindoutandconfirmthatJagnaintendedtopublishworkrelatingtotheJewish-Polishissues.Shewasverysurprisedtohearthatsomehowthenewshadleakedout.WhenIrangheroneevening,althoughshewasverytiredafteradayofinterviewsinLondon,shedidnothesitatetotalkofherintentions,butaskedmetokeepit‘underwraps’,sotospeak,asthefilmmightneverhappen.Itwasmuchlater,whenthefilmwasbeingprepared,shesaidIcouldsaysomethingtothatnewspaper,whopersistedandwantedtoknowwhatthefilmwasabout. JagnawasagreatpersonandatirelessworkerforPolandandallthedeporteestoSiberia. Shewillbegreatlymissedbyallofus;especiallythoseofuswholivedinthecamps,asherfilmsrenewourmemoriesandgiveusstrengthtocarry

on,publicisingthefateofthosewhodidnotsurviveorwereleftbehind.Totheyoungergenerationstheyshowaclipofhistoryofwhichtheworldknowsverylittle.

Julia Garwolinska, London, UK

IechowhatAntonihassaid.ItoofollowedJagna’slastweeks.Ionlymetheroncebutwehadanemailex-changeandshewasinspirationalandsupportiveinherenthusiasmformyresearch.ApowerhouseofawomanwhoIcannotbelievewehavelost.MythoughtsarewithJagna’sfamily.

Barbara Charuba, Canada

IwishtoaddmycondolencestoJagnaWright’sfamily.AllofthemembersoftheKresy-Siberiadiscussiongroupareveryindebtedtoher.WiecznyodpoczynekraczjejdąćPanie!Światłośćwiekuistaniechjejświecinawiekiwieków.Amen!

Tim and Linder Ladbrooke [Sakhnyk], Nottingham, UK

TomygoodfriendJagna,youmaybegoneto‘above’,butyou’llalwaysbesittingonmyshoulder,justlikethe‘PolishEagle’givingmea‘push’tofur-therthe‘cause’.YoutoldmethatIwas‘brave’,notso!youwerethe‘brave’oneattheend.Youwereagood‘Polishwifeandmother’andwealllovedyou

somuch.Youhadanextraquality–youhadnotonly‘Jagna’svision’,but‘Jagna’s‘tunnelvision’.Thatmeansthatyourdeterminationanddrivemadethis,thefirstdocumentaryever,alongwithAneta,toshowtheplightofthePolishpeople,duringthoseterribleyears.Youbothfoundthelastfewsurvivorsandinterviewedthem.Thesurvivorsofthoseterribletimes!Andnow,theworldisstartingtolisten–I’llmakesurethattheirearsdon’tclose!Inevertoldofyourcancer–apromisethatIkept,untilyouwerereadytotell.See,Icankeepasecret!!!But,Imissthehugswehad,thevoiceonthephone,thelaughswehad,andeventhehorribletalkswehadaboutyourcancer.ImissYOU! Becauseofthefilm‘AForgottenOdyssey’,wenowhaveadedicatedgroupof600+whoarelearningthispieceofhistoryabouttheirfamilies.That’sthankstoyou,AnetaandourStefanWisniowski,thewholeworldisopeningitsears. Youtaughtmeoneveryimportantthingwhentryingtoraisemoneyfor‘thecause’-‘manypeoplehaveshortarmsanddeeppockets’,afterjustoneofmany‘knock-backs’,butyou‘soldieredon’andgotthereintheend.

It’sthat‘tunnelvision’ofyours,that’swhatyou’veleftbehind!YouevenmademydarlingENGLISHhusbandintoan‘honorary’Pole,thefellowthatistotallyEnglish,butcaughtyourenthusiasmforthe‘cause’.Whatanhonour! Wellpal,Ihopeyourfamilyandfriendswilllookatthisbookoftenandthinktothemselves–‘THATWASOURJAGNA–THEGREATEST’I’llrememberyouforeverandwhenIknowthatIneedinkickinthebutt–I’llthinkofyou. Allourlove.

Tim and Linder Ladbrooke with Jagna Wright, Elzunia Olsson, and Marek Kepa

Eugene Krajewski, UK

IamdevastatedtohearofthedemiseofJagnaWright.AlthoughIamnotaregularcontributortothegroup’sdiscussions,IfoundJagna’sofferingsveryexhaustiveandhighlyknowledgeable.HercontributionstoourCause,andespeciallyherfilmTheForgottenOdyssey,haveinmyview,neverbeenbettered.Pleasepassonmycondolencestothefamily,togetherwiththoseofmanymembersthat,I’msure,willwishtoexpressthem.HerpresenceintheGroupwillbegreatlymissed.

Elzunia Gradosielska Olsson, Alingsås, Sweden

IwasreallyshockedwhenIheardaboutJagna’sillness,I’dneverrealisedthingsweresoserious.Thisissosad,sotragic.WhenwemetatJagna’shouseinFebruary2006shewassohospitableandsosweet.It’shardtobelieveshe’sreallygone,butshewillliveonthroughherfilmsandherdedicationtoPolandandit’sKresy-Siberiahistory.Shewasarealsoldierforthe

cause,andnevergaveup.Shewasalwayswillingtoanswerquestionsonthegroupsiteandtohelppeopleprivately.Shewillbemissedbymany.Herlastmonthswereverydifficultandnowshecanrestinpeace.Sincerecondolencestoherhusbandandchildrenandfamily.

Paul Havers, UK

ThisissomethingthatIdidn’tknowabout,I’msadtohearthis.Pleaseaddmysincerecondolences.

Eve Jankowicz, USA

Yearsagowhenrespondingtoapostastowhytherewasnotamoreconcertedefforttoourcause,Jagnawrotethatthereweremany“lonecowboys”allovertheworldwhowereputtingforthmuchworkindividually,andthiscontributedtothewhole.Fromthenoninourpersonalcorrespondence,wereferredtoeachotherasfellowcowgirls.Jagnahaslefthermarkandhugecontribution,andherworkwillgoonandon.Jagnadidnotliketodiscussherillnessandwouldrarelydoso.Shebecamealittleannoyedwhenthesubjectwasbroughtupandwouldbarelytouchonitevenwhenansweringaboutherhealth.HereagainJagnafoughtcourageouslyagainstthediseasewitheverythingshehad. Shedidnotpostoften,butwhenshedid,tomymindatleast,herpostswerealwayscorrect.Whenrequired,sheansweredtruthfully,backedupwithfactsandcitations.Shewillbegreatlymissed. Jagna,“Untilwemeetagain,”(fromHappyTrails,themesongof“TheRoyRogersShow”)

Fran Wuebold

PleasepassonmyheartfeltcondolencestoJagna’sfamily.Itissotragicthatsuchanimportantmemberofourgrouphaspassedonandshewillbesadlymissed.Butwhatanincrediblelegacyshehasleftwithus.Ineverysenseherspirit&workcarriedwithherthousandsofvoiceswhodidnotcomehomefromSiberia.Itisnodoubtthatshewaswelcomedhomebythosewhoshebeggedtheworldnottoforget.

Cynthia Pukiello, USA

IamnewtothegroupbutIwouldliketoaddmysinceresympathytoMr.WrightandhisandJagna’schildrenwhowillbesadtoloseawonderfulWifeandMother.IdidnotknowJagna,butfromallthee-mailsIhavereadshemusttrulyhavebeenamarvellouswifeandmother.Manypeoplearewithyouatthissadtimeandallourprayersarewithallyourfamily.RestinpeaceDearJagna.

Romuald E Lipinski, Virginia, USA

IwishtoexpressmysorrowontheoccasionofdeathofJagnaWright.AsaSiberiasurvivorIwasdeeplymovedwhenIsawherfilmTheForgottenOdysseyduringhervisittoWashington,DC,USA.ThisisamajorcontributionaimedateducationoftheAmericanpopulaceonthiscrimecommittedbytheSovietGovernmentduringWWII.ThroughoutherlifeJagnatirelesslyworkedonthesubjectofthePolishdiaspora.

HerpassingisagreatlosstoPoloniaingeneralandtous,the“Sybiraks”inparticular.Wewillkeephermemoryinourheartsforever.

Elzbieta Gurtler-Krawczynska Survivor from Atlanta, GA, USA

PleasepassmydeepestcondolencestoJagna’sfamilyandAnetaNaszynska.WelostanincrediblevisionaryandambassadorfortheKresy-Siberiaproblem.Jagna,Thankyouforthedocumentaryfilm“AForgottenOdyssey”whichIwasabletoshowtwiceinAtlanta.RestinPeace.WiecznyodpoczynekraczjejdąćPanie.AświatłośćwiekuistaniechajJejświeci,nawiekiwieków,Amen!

George Szymanski, Melton Mowbray, UK

InJune2007IreadtheobituaryofJagnaWrightandwasimpressedwithhereffortstorecordtheKresy-Siberiatragedy.MywifeandIwatched“AForgottenOdyssey”andwereamazedtoseeasmallmovieclipwhichshowedmyfatheramongagroupofyounglads.

Julek Plowy, Calif. USA

Iamdeeplysaddenedonhearingthisnews.IsendmydeepestcondolencestoJagna’sfamily.

Krys Dobrzanski, Ipswich, UK

IjustcannotbelievethatJagnahasleftthisworld.Ididnothavetheopportunitytomeetherpersonally,butIhavealwaysfeltinmycorrespondencewithherthatshewasadearandcaringindividualandshewillbesadlymissed.Jagna’sunstintinghardworkinfightingtirelesslyforherbeliefsmustsurelybeahumblinginspirationtousall.PleaseexpressmyheartfeltcondolencestoJagna’sfamily.

Elzunia Boden (nee Szlamka) Chichester, West Sussex

Jagna,Openingupyourhomeandhostingthe2006Kresymeeting,showedatrulygenerousPolishheartandspirit.Thegrouphaslostacherishedmember.

Tilford Bartman

Iknewherjustfromexchangeofmanyemails,butevenincyberspaceIcouldsenseherverygenuineandwarmpersonality...quiteremarkable.

Bozena Gaffney. Florida, USA

Fran:SuchabeautifullyexpressedsentimentwillbetakentoheartbyJagna’sfamily.Andthosereadingitmustallbetouchedbyit.MayIjoinyouandothersinofferingcondolencestoJagna’sfamily.

Hania Kaczanowska. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

IhadachancetomeetJagnaafewyearsagowhenshewaspromotingherfilminEdmontonaccompanyingStanleyCloudandLynneOlsenwiththeirbook“AQuestionofHonour”.SheinvitedmetoherhomeinLondonwhenIwasthere,wherewesharedteaandcroissantswithhomemadejaminherwarmandlovely

kitchen,aswetalked.LastyearLinderandImetwithheragaininalittlePolishrestaurantinLondonandsharedawonderfulPolishdinnerandcon-versationasshesurprisinglypresenteduswithhernewestvideo“TheOtherTruth”.Shewassuchapositiveenergyandsoldieredagoodcauseinauniquejourneyunitingmanyofusinthisgroup,andeducatingbeyondbelief.Shestruggledagainstmanyoddswithherillnessandstillmanagedtocarryonwiththestrengthofherundyingpassioninspiteofeverything. Maythelightofangelssurroundherandmydeepestcondolencestoherhusband,children,family,Anetaandfriends.ThankyouJagnaforyourpassion,allyoudidforKresyandtheinspirationyousharedwithallofus.InthedistancemayyoustillhearthesoundofthebugleasitplaysthelastnoteoftheHejnalforyou.

Barbara Revoet, and Vyto Karmazinas, Connecticut, USA

JagnakindlytranslatedsomelettersintoPolishformeshortlybeforeChristmaslastyear.Ihadnoideashewassoill.I’mgoingtomissher,eventhoughInevermetherinperson.ShewasveryhelpfultomesinceIjoinedthegroupseveralyearsago.Mydeepestcondolencestoherfamilyandfriends.Pleaseforwardourmessagesofsympathyandremembrancetoherfamily.I’msure

Jagnaislookingdownatallofusnow,hopefullyinspiringeachustoeducatetheworldaboutthePolishsufferings,asshedid.

Helena Danielczuk, Bradford, UK

Howsoverysad,andunfair.Itoo,hadtheprivilegeandindeedthehonourtomeetJagnawithmyfriendKrysiawithwhomIsing.WemetattheDaiquise,wesharedameal,adrinkandanecdotesaswellasourpassionforthecause,thefrustrationsofmoderncensorshipandtoomanycloseddoors.Shemusthavealreadybeendiagnosedasitwasabout5yearsagoinMay.ToherfamilyallIcansaythatshewastrulyremarkable,takecomfortandknowthatherspiritliveson-shereallyhasonlysteppedintothenextroom.

Marek Kepa, UK

ItiswithshockandgreatsadnessthatIreadaboutthepassingofJagna.Iwouldliketopassonmyheartfeltcondolencestoherfamily.WieczneodpoczywanieraczjejdąćPanie,niechświatłośćwiekuistaświecijejnawiekiwieków,Amen!

Danusia Socha London, UK

ItiswithdeepsadnessIreadofthedeathofJagnaWright.Theimpactofherworkhasnotonlytouchedmylife,whenseveralyearsagoandquitebychance,Ifirststumbledonherfilm‘AForgottenOdyssey’,butalsothatofmanymanyothersandhascontributedsomuchtoraisetheawarenessofthisaspectofthePolishexperienceinWWII.IcanonlyconcurwithFranWuebold’scomment‘whatanincrediblelegacyshehasleftwithus.’JagnaWrightwillbeprofoundlymissedbysomanybutespeciallybyherfamilytowhomIsendmydeepestcondolences.

Sincerely, Krystyna Szypowska Kingston, Ontario, Canada

ToJagna’sFamily:Pleaseacceptmyheartfeltandsincerecondolences.InevermetJagna,buthaveviewedherfilmandwebsiteandhavebeenveryimpressedbythepassionwithwhichsheundertookthismissionoftellingtheworldaboutthefateofpeoplelikemymother’sfamily.IcanneverfullyexpresshowgratefulIamthatshedidthis.Hercommitment,driveandpassionwill

alwaysbefondlyremembered,andyouhaveeveryreasontobevery,veryproudofher.

Val Oldham, UK

Iamshockedtohearthissadnews.IexchangedafewemailswithherwhenIbought‘AForgottenOdyssey’butneverhadthepleasureofmeetingher.PleasesendmycondolencestoJagna’sfamily.

Lynda Kraar, Toronto, Canada

Iamstillshakingatthistragicnews.TosaythatIamprofoundlysaddenedistheunderstatementoftheyear.JagnawasinstrumentalinprovidinginformationandhelpwithmytriptoPolandlastyear.Ihaveeveryscrapsheeversentme.Westayedintouchquiteoften.IwantedhertocometoTorontoandhaveascreeningattheJewishFilmFestival.WebegantotalkaboutsomeotherpossibilitiesforfilmfestivalsintheNewYorkarea

andaroundtheStates,anywherewhereImighthavecontactsandconnections.Thenoneday,seeminglyoutoftheblue,Jagnasubtlysuggestednotmovingforwarduntilshewasready.Ihadnoideawhatwasgoingonwithher.IrecallthatafriendofmineinLodzwenttoherscreeninglastyearattheFilmSchoolandwasveryimpressedwithhervision.TherewasapparentlyalivelyQ&AafterthescreeningandJagnapullednopunches.Whatarewetodo,withoutourbelovedJagna?Ican’tbelieveit.Ijustsithereintotalshockanddisbelief.Itissoimportantforus/them/theworld/anybody/everybodytocontinuethisholyworkofpreservingthepastforposterity.Jagna,dearheart,restwell.Youarealreadymissed.

Krystyna Freiburger, Ontario, Canada

DearJagna’sfamilyandfriends....mygreatestsympathy.....IamsoveryverysaddenedwiththenewsofJagna’sdeath.Jagnawasmyinspirationtostartworkingpassionatelyforourcause.ShealwaysencouragedmeviaemailwheneverIwasworkingonaprojectandwelookedforwardtomeetingsomedayfacetoface.Jagnawasasurvivorasshecontinuedtowork

hardinspiteofherillness.LikeallofyouIwillmissherimmensely.Letusbegladandthankfulthatshewassuchanimportantpersoninthetapestryofourlives!!!

Helena and Dezio Lachocki, USA

Please,sendourcondolencestoJagna’sFamily.Wewillrememberherasagreatcontributortoourcause.Shewillbemissedbyallofus.Letherrestinpeace.

Zosia Lacz (Krukowska) Victoria, B.C. Canada

Youneverreallyknowhowfaryouractionscangoandhowtheycouldaffectsomeoneelse.Jagna’sdeterminationtogetthestoryofTheForgottenOdysseyoutintotheworldtrulyhasmadeanimpactinmylife.ThroughtheKresysiteIlearnedsomuchmoreaboutmyownmother.It’sgivenmeabetterunderstandingofwhoshewasandinturnhelpedmeunderstandmyselfmore.MyownsearchesforstoriesthentookmebacktoPoland

whereIreconnectedwithotherfamilyafter30years.ThereIfoundforgottenmemoirsmymotherwroteandlearnedevenmore.Jagnawasabeaconandremindertousallofwhatonepersoncando.Iamsoverythankfulforthelightshehasspreadoutintotheworld.Pleaseacceptmydeepestheartfeltsympathiesforyourloss.WordsarenotenoughtoexpressmyfeelingsbutbecauseofJagnaIaminspiredtokeepthatbeaconoflightburning.Sincerely.

Zbigniew Bob Styrna, Vancouver, Canada

ItiswithaheavyheartthatIwritethis.ThiscameasashocktomebecauseIdidnotknowJagnawasfightingcancer,somethingthatIpersonallyknowalotabout.IwishtothankJagnaandherfamilyforthewonderfulgiftshestartedandleftus,thefilm“…AForgottenOdyssey”. ItisespeciallysadtohearthatJagna’sgrandfather,ZygmuntOsuchowski,wasonthesametrainasmymotherandherfamilytoSiberia.IaskedmymothertodayifsheknewthisjudgefromZłoczów.Shedidnot,butherfatherwasbestfriendswithalawyerfromZloczowbythenameofKruczkowski.SinceZłoczówwasnotthatbig,we’resurethatMr.KruczkowskiandmygrandfathermusthaveknownanddealtwithMr.Osuchowski. Mydeepestcondolences.Jagnawillbemissed,asshemadeadifferencetoourlives.

Stefan Nycz

RecentlycameacrossthissitefollowingtheobituaryofJagnaintheTelegraph.Myfatherhastoldmethedetailsofhischildhoodnumeroustimes,andtheycorrelateexactlytotheOdysseyfilm.

Carol Celinski Dove

Jagnatouchedandchangedsomanyofus.Shesawaneedforeducationandwiththesupportandloveofherfamilysheachivedit.Shehastouchedsomanyofusinsuchaspecialway.HowoftendoIthink,“WhatwouldJagnado?”Weallknowshewouldstandtallandnotletanythingstopher.Shesethermindonagoaland

withaninnerstrengthshewasabletoachiveherdream. Imustsaythankyoutoherfamilyforsharingherwithus.Withoutyoursupportandunderstandingwewouldnothaveallbeengivenagiftofknowledge.Knowledgeofourhistoryaswellasamessageofwhatcanbedone.ForthisIamforevergrateful.Mydeepestcondolencestoherhusbandandchildrenandfamily.

Shewillforeverbemissed.

This album was produced by Mark Lewis6 Cleveland Avenue, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 2BT, England.Telephone: +44 0115 9735074. Email: mark@marklewis.tv