On 15 May 2009, at the invitation of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland , the Lasting Memory Foundation took part in the ceremony of kindling Chanukah lights in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. The first candle was lit by the First Lady- Maria Kaczyńska. The medals and awards were given on behalf of the President. Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Ewa Juńczyk-Ziomecka, reminded the guests that the tradition of lighting Chanukah candles by the head of state was initiated 3 years ago by the President Lech Kaczyński.