No matter how much time passes or how far apart family members drift, the longing to reunite never fades. For George Skrzynecky and Lucian Poznanski, that moment of reunion came at the age of 69—after a lifetime of separation.
Born in 1946, the twin brothers entered the world under difficult circumstances. Their mother, Elizabeth, a Polish Catholic woman, had just been freed from a labor camp at the end of World War II. Weak and ill after giving birth, she made the heartbreaking decision to give them up for adoption, hoping they would have a better life.
George and Lucian were sent to Poland, but fate took them in different directions. Each was adopted into a separate home, never knowing the other existed—until decades later.
Lucian only discovered he was adopted when he was drafted into the army, while George stumbled upon his adoption papers at 17. That was the day he learned he had a twin brother. Determined to find him, George sought help from the Red Cross, but his search came up empty.
Meanwhile, Lucian remained unaware of his brother’s existence until he was in his 60s. When he finally learned the truth, he, too, turned to the Red Cross for help. This time, the organization succeeded in reconnecting the long-lost twins.
George flew from his home in California to Warsaw, Poland, where Lucian was waiting. The moment they saw each other, the years of separation melted away. With tears in their eyes, they embraced, kissed each other on the cheek, and vowed to make up for lost time.
“Brothers forever,” they promised—determined to create new memories together after a lifetime apart.