US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visits Polish village where his ancestors lived
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, center, examines the original marriage certificate of his maternal grandmother's parents at the Dabrowka Church in Kiszkow, Poland, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Dabrowka Church is located on the same site where his maternal grandmother's parents were married in 1882. The original church burned down in the 1920's and was later rebuilt. (AP Photo/Robert Burns) (The Associated Press)
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has paid a visit to the village in western Poland where his maternal ancestors were married in the 19th century and examined the marriage documents.
On the second day of his official visit to Poland, Hagel traveled on Friday to Kiszkow, where his mother's grandparents came from, before immigrating to the United States. On Thursday, Hagel told reporters his grandmother's name was Kakolewska.
In the village, he stopped at Dabrowka church and examined the original marriage certificate, a copy of which was offered to him.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The church is located on the same site of the church where his ancestors were married in 1882, but which burned down in the 1920s.