At the request of the President of the PRONAR Owners’ Council, Mr Sergiusz Martyniuk, ministerial honours were awarded to the company’s employees at the PRONAR Exhibition Centre in Siemiatycze.
The twenty-fifth of October 2024 will be a special date in the memory of more than thirty employees of Pronar from various factories and departments, because that was the day of the gala awarding the ministerial honours. Honours included: Crosses of Merit, Medals for Long Service and the badges of honour “Meritorious for Agriculture”. These awards are the highest honour for work for the glory and development of the Republic of Poland.
The ceremony was hosted by the President of the Pronar Owners’ Council, Mr Sergiusz Martyniuk, and PRONAR’s HR Manager, Mr Krzysztof Lewczuk. Among the invited guests there were, among others: Governor of Podlasie – Mr Jacek Brzozowski with his employees, Podlaskie Province Deputy Marshal – Mr Marek Malinowski, the Starost of Siemiatycze – Mr Mariusz Piotr Cieślik and the Mayor of Siemiatycze – Mr Piotr Siniakowicz, as well as the management and directors of the Siemiatycze Factory with their staff.
The event was opened by a short speech of the President of the Pronar Owners’ Council, who presented the Pronar’s impressive history to the invited guests. He also mentioned the development plans for the Exhibition Centre, which will undergo a significant overhaul in the coming months. The Governor of Podlasie – Mr Jacek Brzozowski – then took the floor and stated that: “(…) without a visionary there is no development, and President Martyniuk is just such a visionary. (…) anyone who stops is left behind, and only a visionary is able to move forward”. He also expressed his appreciation to all the award winners, congratulating them on the distinctions they had received. The speeches were followed by the main part of the ceremony – the awarding of the winners, which was carried out by the President of Pronar and the Governor of Podlasie.
The history of the Cross of Merit goes back to a law from 1923, when it was initially the highest honour for civilians who distinguished themselves in their work for the country and society after Poland regained independence in 1918. Today, it is awarded in accordance with the 1992 law as a reward to people who have performed outstanding services for the state and its citizens by going above and beyond the call of duty and have thus significantly benefited the state and its citizens. This honour is awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland. One Pronar employee was honoured with the Silver as well as the Bronze Cross of Merit.
The history of the Long Service Medals, which are awarded successively, dates back to 1938. The right to the medal was obtained by virtue of work in the service of the state or other public-law institutions. In 2007, the medal was reinstated and is now awarded by the President of Poland as a reward for exemplary and conscientious performance of duties in the service of the state. In the hierarchy of Polish honours, they rank just below the Medal for Sacrifice and Courage. The Gold Medal for Long Service was granted to three employees of Pronar. The Silver Medal for Long Service was granted to eleven employees and the Bronze Medal was awarded to eight employees.
The last honour granted to the Pronar’s employees is the honorary badge ‘Meritorious for Agriculture’, which dates back to 1970. It has been awarded in its current form since 1996 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to people with special achievements in the field of agriculture, rural development and agricultural markets Six employees will receive the ‘Meritorious for Agriculture’ badge.
The recipients of the aforementioned awards are employees who have contributed to the company’s development over the decades, while also actively contributing to the local community. These are individuals who, with their daily work, quiet heroism and dedication, make a huge contribution to the development of the Polish economy and innovation. They represent different departments – production, tool room, controlling, sales, accounting, maintenance or planning. Their stories are a perfect example that anyone can contribute to collective success, regardless of their position. The honours they have received are not only prestigious, but also a reminder of the essence of appreciating those who work every day for the common good of the company and Poland.
After the winners had been announced, the Deputy Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Mr Marek Malinowski, took the floor and not only expressed his appreciation of Pronar’s scale of operations, but also congratulated all the award winners. A surprise for the guests gathered at the ceremony was a short concert by the Pronar Choir and Music Ensemble under the baton of Prof. Wioleta Miłkowska. Afterwards, there was a joint dinner with the laureates and invited guests, which was an excellent opportunity for numerous conversations and making new contacts.