The American sculptress Tracy Sugg has donated an artwork to Kosciuszko Heritage.

The piece, titled The Spirit of Polonia, features a high relief sculpture of a figure personifying ‘Polonia’ (the Polish Community), with a sword in one hand and a victory wreath in the other, depicting the way in which her determination throughout history has ensured her victory.

In an accompanying letter, Tracy wrote: “My husband Robert has coined the phrase “Beauty strengthens the Soul” and I pray that the “Spirit of Polonia” will be a rich source of beauty to your Kosciuszko Heritage and one that invites viewers to reflect on the great history of Poland and the part played in that history by Tadeusz Kosciuszko!”

The President of Kosciuszko Heritage, Ernestyna Skurjat Kozek, was both surprised and delighted by the gift.

“All of us at Kosciuszko Heritage are overwhelmed,” she wrote to Tracy. “We thank you so much for the gift.”

Click here to read Ernestyna’s full recount of the arrival of the artwork (published in Puls Polonii)