Newark dignitaries have returned home from Poland after attending the national funeral of three Presidents-in-Exile following their exhumation from Newark Cemetery.

Mayor Laurence Goff and Town Clerk Matthew Gleadell flew to Warsaw as guests of the Polish government for the funerals of Władysław Raczkiewicz, August Zaleski, and Stanisław Ostrowski.

The three were presidents of the Polish government while their nation was under Nazi and Soviet control and had been buried in Newark Cemetery before being exhumed on November 3 to be returned to a free Poland, as was their wish.

The three presidents didn’t live to see Poland become independent in 1989, but were welcomed home just a day after Poland’s national independence day ­— November 11.

On Saturday morning Polish and British dignitaries joined the presidents' family members at Okęcie Military Airport to welcome them home.

Later, there was a national funeral for them at the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw, which was broadcast live on Polish television.

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Newark Mayor Laurence Goff said: “It took a long time to decide if bringing the presidents was the right thing to do or not.

“We honoured them while they were in our cemetery in Newark and some people thought that they should go back to their homeland as a free nation.

“At least we know back in our hearts that the three presidents are back where they belong, and that they will be respected and remembered.

“People will see them and know that they were in the cemetery in Newark and that now they’re back home.

“I’m grateful that I am here to represent the town and be able to pay back what the Polish have done in life for our freedom.”

At the airport, the bodies were received by Polish scouts, cadets and military, navy and air forces as well as the Polish armed forces band.

At the welcoming ceremony, the Polish Prime Minister Matuesz Morawiecki said: “After a long journey. the three presidents are returning to their homeland.

"They are coming where they belong. Now, they will forever witness the truth, continuation and dream of a great Poland.

"In the dark times of communist captivity, they retained the insignia of the Republic of Poland.

"It was also thanks to their perseverance that the Polish nation lasted for decades in communist captivity and survived until 1989, when the dawn of freedom came to us."

The funeral and reburial of the presidents took place during the afternoon at the recently created Mausoleum of the Presidents of the Republic of Poland, at the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw.

The bodies were taken each in funeral cars to the temple, where people awaited for the beginning of the honorary ceremony.

A choir of about 50 sang as the coffins were carried into the temple by military personnel, and at the end when the presidents were taken to their new tombs.

Stanisław Ostrowski's great-nephew, Jan Ostrowski, who attended the ceremony with his family, said: “It was a wonderful experience seeing my great-uncle return to Poland.

“He spent his whole life fighting for the independence and freedom of Poland in many different ways but he never saw Poland's independence in his lifetime until now.

“The ceremony itself was a remarkable celebration and I was very impressed by it.

“I hope that with his resting place in the Temple of the Divine Providence will help spread knowledge about the role played by the presidents in exile and that it will be a permanent reminder to people that freedom is fragile.

“I’m sure that this is what he would’ve wanted.”

The ceremony was conducted in Polish, but earphones were distributed to English-speaking people to provide a live translation.

The presidents' caskets were blessed by a higher bishop both at the airport welcoming and at the Temple funeral.

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said: “Today, here and now, they find themselves in their place. Today they return to their homeland, which they were forced to leave.

“They return to the homeland, which they preserved within themselves, which they carried on despite the sneers and jeers of Communists who derided them.

“But they believed that they were vessels of a free, sovereign and independent Poland and that Poland would be this way on this very land.

“They were not mistaken.”

Following the church service at the temple, the bodies were taken to the bottom floor where respects and blessings were paid.

Once the Polish flags on top of each of the coffins were folded by members of the military, the presidents were taken to their tombs.

Attaché at Polish embassy in London, Mipek Malec said: "From my perspective, the ceremony was one of the best, most emotional and professionally prepared events to take place for the last few decades.

"I fully understand all families and those who express their doubts, I am of the opinion that the presidents are integral part of our Polish history and national heritage.

"Therefore, they deserve to be burried in the prestigious Temple of Divine Providence, so that all families have the opportunity to visit their ancestors' graves, and Poland as their symbolic motherland."

An emotional ceremony in which family members had the privilege to see their beloved ones return to their homeland, as a free and united country.

Newark’s town clerk Matthew Gleadell said: “It is hard to put into words the experience of having witnessed first hand the state services in Poland to mark the return and repatriation of the three Polish presidents in exile.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have played a part in such a big state occasion.

“Being stood just feet away from the Polish Prime Minister and President at Warsaw Chopin airport in front of the Polish TV cameras as the Presidents arrived home was a moment that felt very surreal.

“To then be present at the Temple of Divine Providence as the Presidents were laid finally to rest after a very moving , emotional and at times awe inspiring Catholic mass and service of celebration of the return of the Presidents to their homeland was an experience that I will not forget.”

The mausoleum also holds the remains of Ryszard Kaczorowski, the last Polish president-in-exile.

The remaining Polish presidents Edward Raczynski and Kazimierz Sabbat were attributed symbolic tombs at the Temple.

A museum in memory of the presidents was opened to the public with stories written in the walls, videos and pictures of the previous presidents, to which honour and respects are paid.

Lieutenant-General Sir Bill Rollo, vice-chairman of Commonwealth War Graves Commission said: “I feel like we’re closing a chapter of history.

“We looked after the presidents for nearly 30 years and now they’re coming back, we’ve done our part, which is great."

Newark town Mayor Laurence Goff concluded: “We should be grateful for the Polish that came over and helped us.

“They fought until the end, they risked their lives and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“They were determined to fight for freedom and this is the way of Newark to honour them.

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