Sir Elton John will be presented with the Medal of Gratitude from Poland this weekend for his contribution in bringing down the Communist regime, the European Solidarity Center said.
“We award this [medal] to foreigners who helped Poland during its long struggle for freedom,” the Daily Mail quoted Magdalena Charkin-Jaszcza, of the European Solidarity Centre (ESC) in Gdansk, as saying.
During a concert in Gdansk in 1984, five years before the collapse of communism, the legendary singer and songwriter publicly praised Lech Walesa and his Solidarity trade union, which was illegal in communist Poland ruled by Communist army chief General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Elton John addressed the audience, expressing hope for political change in Poland and Europe.
Walesa was elected president of Poland in 1990 oversaw its transformation into a post-Communist state. He will present Elton John with the award during his concert in the seaside resort of Sopot on Sunday.
