HISTORY
The Wisconsin State Division of the Polish American Congress is an active unit within the Polish American Congress (Kongres Polonii Amerykańskiej, KPA), which was founded in Buffalo, New York at the beginning of June, 1944 at a massive gathering attended by more than 2,500 delegates elected by Polish American organizations around the country.
The Polish American Congress came into existence in the last year of World War II. Its aim was to unite Polish Americans, then numbering an estimated 6 million in all in a country of 140 million in support of America’s victory in the War and in defense of the cause of a free and independent Poland after victory was achieved.
Poland, though occupied by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia during the War, possessed a government in exile in London whose leaders were allies of the U.S. Polish military forces totally an estimated 650,000 were fighting on the side of the U.S.-British-Soviet alliance against Nazi Germany.
Mr. Charles (Karol) Rozmarek, President of the Polish National Alliance, was elected president of the Polish American Congress. The other national officers and directors elected at the meeting were all leaders of major Polish American organizations.
Only days after the great gathering in Buffalo adjourned, the battle of Normandy began on June 6, 1944. A year later the War was over in Europe. But Poland did not regain its freedom and independence after the War. Tragically, and against its people’s will, Poland came under Soviet Russian control and remained so until 1989.
As a result, the Polish American Congress remained in existence as an active political lobbying organization that pressed for U.S. government support for Poland’s freedom and an end to the injustice done to its people.
Throughout its history after 1944, under President Rozmarek, who served from 1944 until 1968, and his successors, Aloysius (Alojzy ) Mazewski (president from 1968 to 1988), and Edward Moskal (president from 1988 to 2005), the PAC remained true to its founding principles, which also extended to defending the good name of Poland and the Polish people in America from slander and denigration.
The PAC continues to this day in this sprit under President Frank Spula who, like all of his predecessors, is president of the Polish National Alliance fraternal benefit and insurance society.
Some Highlights on the Work of the Wisconsin Polish American Congress over the Years
The Wisconsin State Division of the Polish American Congress has been a contributing unit of the national Polish American Congress since the founding of the PAC in Buffalo in June 1944. Over the past seven plus decades, the Wisconsin PAC has worked closely with all other Wisconsin Polish American organizations to unite Polish Americans in working to achieve the national Polish American Congress’ mission in support of a free and independent Poland, the material well being of its people, the promotion of civic awareness and action by Polish Americans, and the building of knowledge and appreciation of the rich Polish heritage in the United States.
Here are just a few of the Wisconsin State Division’s achievements over the years::
- Support for a free Poland through the years of communist rule and cooperation with our public officials, e.g., U.S. Congressmen Thaddeus Wasielewski, Clement Zablocki, and Gerald Kleczka, on behalf of the aspirations of the Polish people.
- Humanitarian fund raising efforts on behalf of the Polish people from the 1940s through the American Relief for Poland federation headed by Milwaukee Judge Francix X. Swietlik and later through the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation; in the 1980s and early 1990s alone the Wisconsin PAC raised more than $400,000 in money and material assistance to martial-law ridden Poland.
- In 1978-79 the Wisconsin PAC played a crucial role in working with Wisconsin state legislators to establish a permanent Polish Studies program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an academic program that continues to this day. In addition the Wisconsin PAC has continued to sponsor a host of educational programs for the public and in cooperation with other Polish and ethnic organizations throughout Wisconsin and to support the cultural initiatives of other Polish Americans, including the restoration of St Josaphat Basilica and the Kosciuszko monument and the advancement of the Polish Center of Wisconsin and the annual Polish Fest.
- In 1998 the Wisconsin PAC inaugurated an annual observance of Polish Independence Day and Veterans Day. We were the very first PAC state division to initiate these two historic events of November 11, 1918.
Thousands of dedicated men and women have given of their time and talents to make our State Division the successful and effective organization that we are today. Come join us and learn more about what we do and stand for!
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Archived Posts
- 2023 May 3rd
- 2023 Lecture on Polish Borders by Prof. Don Pienkos
- 2023 REMEMBER THIS: Jan Karski movie premieres on PBS Wisconsin
- 2023 Upcoming lectures in the Polish Center of Wisconsin
- 2022 Polish National Independence Day
- 2022 Independence and Veteran Day Luncheon (invitation)
- 2022 Wianki, Polish Celebration of Noc Świętojańska (St. John’s Night)
- Celebrating Constitution of May 3, 1791 in Polish Center of Wisconsin
- 2022 Polish Constitution Day, Polish Flag Day and the Day of Polonia
- 2022 March Bulletin
- 2022 Polonia For Ukraine Donations
- 2022 Polish American Congress Condemns Russian Invasion of Ukraine
- 2022 PAC-WI State Division Letters to WI Senators and Representatives
- 2021 Polish Christmas Carols
- 2021 Panel Discussion: Martial Law in Poland 1981-1983 (REPORT)
- 2021 Panel Discussion: Martial Law. Poland 1981-1983 (invitation)
- 2021 Solidarity: Underground Publishing and Martial Law 1981-1983
- 2021 Polish Independence Day and Veterans Day
- 2021 Polish Independence Day and Veterans Day Luncheon
- 2021 Prof. Pienkos lecture: Polish Vote in US Presidential Elections
- 2021 POLISH HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS
- 2021 “Freedom” Monument Unveiled in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
- 2021 PCW Picnic and Fair
- 2021 Remembering Września Children Strikes (1901-1903)
- 2021 May 3 Constitution Day
- 2021 DYKP Contest Winners and Answers
- 2021 DYKP CONTEST EXTENDED and CASIMIR PULASKI DAY
- 2021 February announcements
- 2021 Polish Ministry of Education and Science oficials visit Wisconsin
- 2021 DYKP Contest, KF Gallery and Dr. Pease lectures
- 2020 Help Enact Resolution commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Katyn Massacre
- 2020 Independence And Veterans Day
- 2020 Remembering Paderewski
- 2020 POLISH HERITAGE MONTH
- 2020 Solidarity born 40 years ago
- 2020 Battle of Warsaw Centenary
- 2020 The Warsaw Rising Remembrance
- 2020 June/July News: Polish Elections, Polish Films Online and more
- 2020 Poland: Virtual Tours
- Centennial of John Paul II’s Birth
- 2020 Celebrating Polish Flag, Polonia and Constitution of May 3rd
- 2020 Polish Easter Traditions
- 2020 Census and Annual Election
- Flavor of Poland (Update 3)
- 2020 Copernicus, Banach & Enigma talk
- 2020 Do You Know Poland and other announcements
- 2020 Flavor of Poland (Update 2)
- 2020 People and Events of the Year
- 2019 Holidays
- 2019 December Medley
- 2019 Independence Celebration
- 2019 Independence Invitation
- 2019 WI Study in Poland Reports
- Lecture: Poland’s Entry Into the NATO
- August 2019 anniversaries
- 2019 Polish Fest
- Celebrating Polish Constitution and Ignacy Paderewski
- WSIP 2018 Reports (Wisconsin Study in Poland)
- 2018 Christmas Carols
- 2018 Polish Independence and Veterans Day
- November 2018 events
- October 2018 Events
- 2018 Kashube Lecture Notes
- September 2018 events
- 2018 Polish Fest Report
- Upcoming 2018 Polish Fest
- Celebrating Polish Constitution Day
- Poland 1979-1989 (panel discussion)
- Protest the Passage of S.447 in the U.S. House of Representatives
- STOP H.R.1226
- 2018 People and Events
- 2017 Polish Christmas Carols
- 2017 The Christmas Tradition of “Kraków Szopka”