Gdansk Airport named after Lech Walesa

Poland's Solidarity hero Lech Walesa made history again, this time by lending his name to the airport in the Baltic port city of Gdansk:

It was in Gdansk that Lech Walesa led the historic shipyard strike which led to the formation of Solidarity, the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc. In 1981 it grew into a social movement of almost ten million Poles, a unique self-limiting revolution which brought political freedom to Poland 15 years ago, and became a catalyst for reform in the whole of central Europe.

A few months ago the local authorities hit up on the idea of naming the city's airport after Walesa to honour him and the Solidarity movement, and as a result to boost the city's international standing. During the ceremony Lech Walesa was evidently moved, having unveiled a huge sign bearing his signature and name.

"I have collected various honours and distinctions and even though, on this occasion too, this looks like a mark of appreciation for me personally in fact it honours all those who fought under the Solidarity banner for Poland's freedom since the 1970s."

Naturally the ceremony brought together all top ranking regional officials. The governor of Gdansk province, Jan Kozlowski, said that Lech Walesa was an obvious choice for the airport's patron.

"Lech Walesa is a legendary founder of Solidarity, a politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner. He has his place in Poland's history, epitomizing the strivings for freedom realized in a peaceful way."

Polish journalist Robert Strybel agrees that it was a good decision to name Gdansk airport after Lech Walesa. He explains why:

"Because, next to the Pope, Lech Walesa is the most widely known and widely recognized Pole in the world today. Whether someone likes Mr. Walesa or not, or agrees with his former policies, but this is a fact, and it's regrettable that Walesa's assets were not tapped by Poland. He should have been named an ambassador of good will or given some type of thing. Even if people have many misgivings about the way he handled the presidency and his personality problems, but still he is the symbol, and nothing can change that."

At 60, Walesa currently remains on the sidelines of political life. But the political tradition in his family is likely to be followed by one of his eight children. 28 year old Jaroslaw Walesa is running for a seat in the European Parliament next month. If elected, he'll be shuttling to Strasbourg from an airport named after his father.