Queen City Police Department

Dear Dana,

I hope this message finds you well (and gives You reason to smile)

My name is Bartosz (Bart) Wienzek, and together with my wife Katarzyna (Katrin) and our daughters Elżbieta (Elizabeth) and Ewa (Eve), I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the help and kindness that you, Officer Valentine, and the entire Queen City Police Department showed us during our unexpected incident in Texas.

After we struck a tire lying on the road and damaged our vehicle's tire, we suddenly found ourselves in a stressful situation far away from home. As visitors from Poland, we did not know what to expect, but thanks to your professionalism, patience, support, and genuine care, we immediately felt safe and welcome.

Your assistance, together with the help provided by Officer Valentine, turned what could have been a very difficult experience into a memory that we will always cherish.

I would also like to thank the wonderful lady who was helping and supporting the police department during our visit . Unfortunately, I have forgotten her name, but I remember that she was helping at the department. Her warmth, kindness, patience, and willingness to help complete strangers made a lasting impression on our family. From the very first moment, she made us feel welcome and cared for, even though we were thousands of miles away from home.

Please pass on our sincere thanks to her as well. Her kindness, concern, and willingness to help made a lasting impression on our family. People like her are a perfect example of the spirit of Queen City and the reason why our memories of your town will always be so special.

Looking back now, we realize that what we will remember most is not the damaged tire or the stress of the situation, but the people we met. The compassion and generosity shown by everyone at the department turned a difficult day into a story that our family will be telling for many years to come.

Despite all the complications, we safely completed our journey. We were scheduled to fly back to Poland on the 13th. On that day, severe weather and tornadoes were affecting the area, and Chicago O'Hare Airport was temporarily closed, creating even more uncertainty and stress during our trip home. Fortunately, everything worked out in the end, and we arrived safely back in Poland.

Now that we are home, we often tell our friends and family about a small town in Texas with a truly enormous heart: Queen City.

During our travels, we drove more than 6,000 miles across the United States, and honestly, nowhere did we meet kinder, warmer, and more helpful people than those we met in Queen City. We love our homeland, Poland, very much, but the hospitality, compassion, and generosity that we experienced from your community were truly exceptional. In all our travels across America, the people of Queen City left the biggest impression on our hearts.

Your town reminded us of the values celebrated in so many great country songs: helping your neighbors, standing by people in difficult moments, and treating strangers like friends. Those are not just words in a song. We experienced them firsthand in Queen City. As one famous country song says, "It's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most." Those simple acts of kindness and compassion from the people of Queen City meant more to our family than words can express.

Please accept our warm greetings from the homeland of Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski, heroes who fought for the freedom of the United States, and from Katowice, a city known for its mines, steelworks, hard working people, and strong traditions.

You will always remain in our hearts and memories. If God is willing, one day we will visit Queen City again. Next time, however, it will not be by accident, but because we want to return to a place that treated us like friends and family.

Thank you once again for everything you did for us. The kindness shown by you, Officer Valentine, the wonderful secretary, and the people of Queen City reminded us that the true strength of a community is not its size, but the hearts of its people.

May God bless you all, keep you safe, and reward the goodness you show to others every day.

With our deepest gratitude and warmest regards,

Bartosz (Bart) Wienzek

Katarzyna (Katrin) Wienzek

Elżbieta (Elizabeth) Wienzek

Ewa (Eve) Wienzek

Katowice, Poland 🇵🇱