Marriage comes with so many responsibilities. When the bride and groom tie the knot, it’s not only each other that they marry. I see this being true for the respective families as well – even the families are tying the knot with one another. Each half of the couple has a family history and honor that they bring to the table. It is a merging of both sides to create a bigger family.
This is a moving video not only because there’s a beautiful wedding going down in the gorgeous church, but also because even though the main focus of any wedding is on the bride and groom, today, it is shared with one more person.
In Bialystok, a city in northern Poland, bride Joanna is delighted that it’s finally the day she gets to marry the love of her life. The wedding is lavishly set up in a huge church, filled with all of the couple’s nearest and dearest. Everyone is seated, and the groom is waiting for his bride. The video opens to everyone turning as she walks in.
With her is her grandfather, Bronislaw ‘Grom’ Karwowski, a World War II veteran, followed by several more outfitted soldiers. All eyes are on both of them as they make their way down the aisle. Everyone looks at her because she’s the stunning bride, and everyone then looks at him because he is a 94-year-old who put on his full military gear to walk his granddaughter down the aisle. Plus, he has a pretty remarkable story.
During the war, when he was a young man, in 1944, Bronislaw was captured as a prisoner of war by the N***s. With some clever thinking, he was able to escape the Gestapo’s headquarters in Lomza, located in Poland’s north-eastern corner.
Only four years later, in 1948, during the communist period, the same young man was arrested again and locked behind bars for 10 years. For having served his country with such nobility, upon being released, Bronislaw was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland and a multitude of other honors.
Everyone in the room is in tears, especially the groom who is fighting back the tears, delighted to be in the man’s presence while also accepting his new wife. He bites his lip and gives the veteran a very heartfelt handshake and a kiss on each cheek after exchanging a few words. Both men look very emotional. Even though the gentleman had health problems, he ignored his ailment to be there for his family.
We’re sad to announce that just two days after the wedding, the celebrated war veteran passed away, opening up the floodgates of tributes to a national war hero.
Click the video below to watch this touching wedding ceremony. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
