Battle of Vienna / Slavic Americans Commemorative Meda
Artifact ID1984.01319.01
Object Type
Medal, Commemorative
Artist
Andrzej Piotr Pitynski
(Polish-American monumental sculptor, 1947-2020)
Date
1983
Medium
Metal (bronze)
Dimensions5/16 × 3 11/16 in. (7.8 × 93.2 mm)
Physical DescriptionA brass medal commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Vienna. The obverse depicts a bas relief of King John III Sobieski of Poland (1629-June 1696) astride a horse with a sword held aloft in his right hand charging forward. Behind him is a flag with a crowned eagle, the arms of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. There is a line of troops of the Winged Hussars, Polish heavy cavalry with full sized wings on the their armor. The bottom is lettered “1683 1983 VIENNA” in raised letters. The reverse has a bas relief of a tree with a human head. The head has a beard and a pointed helmet. The trunk has “SLAVS” in raised letters. Each large leaf on the two branches is lettered with the name of a Slavic ethnic group: POLISH, CZECH, LUSATIAN, MACEDONIAN, CROATION, BOSNIA, BYELORUSSIAN, BULGARIAN, MONTENEGRIN, RUSSIAN, RUTHENIAN, SERBIAN, SLOVAK, SLOVENE, and UKRANIAN. There is a cross in the tree’s right branch/hand. At the bottom is “SLAVIC AMERICAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, INC.”Historical NoteThe medal was given when President Ronald Reagan was in New York, NY on December 12, 1983 to give remarks at the Annual Convention of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in the Imperial Ballroom at the Sheraton Centre Hotel. Afterwards, at the reception at the same hotel, he met with leaders of various ethnic groups, including Dr. Vera Von Wiren-Garczynski, President of the Slavic American Cultural Association Inc.
She said, “I would like to encourage you to do what you are doing and fight against the oppression for free counties. And we stand all behind you. My son was an Airborne Ranger who volunteered. He told me when you speak today to the President, tell him that all our boys are behind him. And we Slavic-Americans are all behind you. Fight the communists as much as you can!” Dr. Von Wiren-Garczynski then gave him the medal as a token of the Society’s appreciation.
The medal depicts the Battle of Vienna, when, on September 12, 1683 troops of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Poland, including the Winged Hussars, repelled the Ottoman army which had laid seige to the city for two months.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was a gift from a member of the general public to President Ronald Reagan during the Reagan administration. It was received through the Executive Office of the President Office of Correspondence and maintained there until its transfer to the National Archives in January, 1989 for deposit with the Reagan Presidential Library.
National Archives Catalog CollectionRecords of the White House Gift Unit (Reagan Administration) (National Archives Identifier 6816362) and
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from the General Public (National Archives Identifier 6816363)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Possibly
Use Restriction NoteCopyright or other proprietary rights may be held by individuals or entities other than the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.
Country/CulturePolandAustriaCzech RepublicNorth MacedoniaCroatiaBosnia and HerzegovinaBelarusBulgariaMontenegroRussiaSerbiaSloveniaSlovakiaUkraineCzechoslovakiaYugoslaviaIn Collection(s)
Exhibition HistoryGifts to the President (2006-2007), Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Related LinksVideo: Trip to New York. Cuts of President Ronald Reagan's Remarks at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Meeting Ethnic Leaders and the Departure form New York City December 12, 1983
Photograph: Trip to New York, Reception and Photo session with Ethnic Leaders at the Sheraton Centre 12/12/1983 c18937-01 c18962-02
Photograph: Trip to New York, Reception and Photo session with Ethnic Leaders at the Sheraton Centre 12/12/1983 c18937-01 c18962-02