On December 13, 1981, the Communist government of the Soviet-satellite state of Poland declared martial law in an attempt to eradicate political opposition and dissent that stemmed from the Solidarity Movement, an independent self-governing trade union. Antoni Losik, my maternal grandfather, joined the anti-bureaucratic movement in 1981 - months before relocation to a jail-like holding facility after turning himself in to the authorities out of fear and a lack of provisions. Once confined, Antoni Losik placed his faith in God. Along with the other men in the cell, Losik secretly confiscated parts of the chain-link fences surrounding the facility in order to construct makeshift crosses. The 'Crown of Thorns' in the center serves as a symbol of pain and starkly contrasts the symbol of hope illustrated by the cross. Although tolerance for religion was low, the authorities did not stop an intensely loud prayer session initiated by Losik and the fellow dissenters due to feelings of awe. Days after, the men were released. Since a normal life was no longer possible in a systematically-oppressive country, Losik and his immediate family applied for visas for political refugees at the American embassy in Warsaw. One-way passports facilitated the somewhat-forced migration to the United States. On November 11, 1982, the Losik family arrived on American soil. The relationship between politics and religion plays a fundamental role in the migration history of the Losik-Bober family.

– Patricia Bober

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