This Belongs to Everyone Here at Cigar Asylum

Hey guys,
As some of you may remember over a year ago I asked all the Gorillas at CS if they could contribute some cigars for the Polish Troops serving in the U.S. Coalition forces. In true Gorilla fashion I was overwhelmed by the generous packages that came from the jungle.

Anyway, I had some legal back and forths with the Polish Embasy and several months later the cigars were shipped off to Afghanistan. Why not Iraq I don't know but maybe they know.

In any case, last September I was invited to the Polish Embassy as an honored guest. Shortly after I was visited by the Polish Army liaison for Washington D.C. and was presented with the following "Certificate"...

Now I made it clear that Club Stogie were the ones who deserved a majority of the credit but seeing as what's happened to CS I think it may be just as well that the site wasn't mentioned.

In any case, this certificate belongs as much to everyone of you who made this possible as it does to me.

Sorry for the delay in posting this but It's been a very rough half year for me and my family and I just hadn't been visiting any forums. I guess in a way that also worked out for the best as CS is dead and I'm glad to be able to post this for the first time here at Cigar Asylum.



This is one post that will not become property of someone who had nothing to do with creating it.

Cheers to you my BOTL brothers, you made this possible and cheered up some Soldiers a very long way from home.

Cheers,
Rob


EDIT: Below is the translated text added at the request of No1der. ~pnoon


Now I want to warn everyone that my Polish to English translation skills aren't very good.

I speak the language quite well but reading and writing are my weakpoints.

I think I did the text justice but I'm sure it could have been done better.

Below is a translation of the text:
"Mr. Robert W. Korczak-Sielicki (Me)

In the name of myself and all the soldiers of the Polish Contingency of the Army in Afghanistan I thirst to give in your hands the most sincere thanks for this warm gift that gave us such great joy.

Putting together the gesture of great respect I would like to give (you) the most sincere soldiers salute (my translation) and best wishes, lots of health and good tidings in your personal and professional life.

Signed.
Commander of Polish Contingent of the Army in Afghanistan.

Brigadier General Grzegorz Buszka"

[Scottw]

Aw man, that's great!!

[pnoon]

Very nice.
Is there any way you or someone you know could translate the text?

[Snake Hips]

Wow, that is very cool. I too would like to know what it says!

The things the gorillas accomplish with their generosity has always astounded me...

Thanks for sharing!! Wonderful to know our members made a few others smile and a difference in the world!

Originally Posted by pnoon

Very nice.
Is there any way you or someone you know could translate the text?

Yup, got it typed up. Now I want to warn everyone that my Polish to English translation skills aren't very good.

I speak the language quite well but reading and writing are my weakpoints.

I think I did the text justice but I'm sure it could have been done better.

Below is a translation of the text:
"Mr. Robert W. Korczak-Sielicki (Me)

In the name of myself and all the soldiers of the Polish Contingency of the Army in Afghanistan I thirst to give in your hands the most sincere thanks for this warm gift that gave us such great joy.

Putting together the gesture of great respect I would like to give (you) the most sincere soldiers salute (my translation) and best wishes, lots of health and good tidings in your personal and professional life.

Signed.
Commander of Polish Contingent of the Army in Afghanistan.

Brigadier General Grzegorz Buszka"

[taltos]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Very nice.
Is there any way you or someone you know could translate the text?

I will see if my wife or her sister can still read enough Polish to translate if you like.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Very nice.
Is there any way you or someone you know could translate the text?

[Hot Stuff x]

That's very cool that you BOTLs would do that for some of our brothers in arms. As a guy who deployed with the US Army many times over the years, i can tell you it feels great to know that folks back home--even strangers to us-- care about us enough to send care packages and well wishes. I'm sure what you did here for these Polish troops they will never forget, and not only did it lift thier spirits, but I think it also helps foster goodwill between our two countries at a grass roots level. Well done!

Originally Posted by taltos

I will see if my wife or her sister can still read enough Polish to translate if you like.

Originally Posted by Mugen910

Uhm, guys, I kinda already posted a translation. If one of the mods would like to copy and paste it into the OP that would be great.

Originally Posted by Hot Stuff x

That's very cool that you BOTLs would do that for some of our brothers in arms. As a guy who deployed with the US Army many times over the years, i can tell you it feels great to know that folks back home--even strangers to us-- care about us enough to send care packages and well wishes. I'm sure what you did here for these Polish troops they will never forget, and not only did it lift thier spirits, but I think it also helps foster goodwill between our two countries at a grass roots level. Well done!

Thank you but I can't stress this enough that although I did play a part most of the credit goes to the Gorillas/Inmates that made this possible.

Certainly I included several bundles of cigars myself but the vast majority >800 were donated by the Jungle.

This is what makes this community absolutely amazing, the fact that we care about others and hold very closely to the unwritten BOTL code.

I salute all of you for the help and in retrospect (and this part will sound strange on the surface) I am happy that there was no mention of Club Stogie in the papers. It would really bother me if some guy with bundles of cash had purchased the credit for what all the BOTL's did/do.

Cheers,
Rob

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by No1der

Uhm, guys, I kinda already posted a translation. If one of the mods would like to copy and paste it into the OP that would be great.

Consider it done.

[pnoon]

Thanks, Robert.

Originally Posted by pnoon

Thanks, Robert.

Thank you guys, like I said this is as much yours as it is mine.

Cheers,
Rob

[DrDubzz]

that is awesome! thanks so much for sharing that

Originally Posted by RX2010

that is awesome! thanks so much for sharing that

I'm glad that circumstances allowed me to post it here where it belongs.

Cheers,
Rob

[DrDubzz]

Originally Posted by No1der

I'm glad that circumstances allowed me to post it here where it belongs.

Cheers,
Rob

no doubt, I think it worked out well

[SmoknTaz]

This is truly amazing, thanks for sharing with us and not puff!

Originally Posted by SmoknTaz

This is truly amazing, thanks for sharing with us and not puff!

Well, it's pretty much the members here that made this possible. There's no love like Jungle love and the fellas from the Jungle really gave a lot of love and over 1000 cigars.

Cheers,
Rob

[SmokinDuck]

That is absolutely awesome.

That is awesome! Thank you and all the other gorillas/inmates for being so generous. My Polish wife (nee Kolashinski) thought it was cool as well!