UPCOMING KOŚCIUSZKO EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

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September 17, 2017 12:00 pm

A DAY WITH THE
GENERAL KOŚCIUSZKO

Gathering at his Monument in Milwaukee’s Kościuszko Park

To honor General Kościuszko on the 200th anniversary of his death, join members of St. John Paul II Polish Saturday School, the Polish American Congress, and Polanki to hear the story of Kościuszko told in his own words (in Polish and English)

The event will begin following the procession from St. Maximillian Kolbe Church to the Kościuszko Monument starting after the end of 10:30 am Mass in Polish.

Anticipated time of the event in Kościuszko Park is 1 hour.

Please bring your own chair if you want to sit during the program

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September 25, 2017 4:00 pm

WHY IS KOSCIUSZKO CALLED
‘THE HERO OF TWO CONTINENTS?’

Lecture by Dr. James Pula
Professor of History at Purdue University

The free lecture with refreshments will be hosted in the Polish Center of Wisconsin.

The event is sponsored by the Milwaukee Society of the Polish National Alliance and supported by Polanki (the Polish Women’s Cultural Club of Milwaukee), the Wisconsin State Division of the Polish American Congress, the UW-Milwaukee Polish Studies Committee and the Polish Heritage Alliance.

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Birthday Wishes from Poland to the United States

on the Sesquicentennial of American Independence

It was an unusual birthday gift that arrived from Poland to the White House on October 14, 1926. Delivered a few months after the 150th anniversary of American independence was celebrated on July 4th of that year, it was a collection of nearly 30,000 pages with 5.5 million signatures gathered among 30 millions of citizens of the Second Polish Republic and about 3 millions of Poles living abroad. The pages were bound into 111 volumes of which the first one was entitled “The Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States.”

Coming from the nation savoring the eighth year of sovereignty regained after 123 years of partitions, it was a token of high esteem for the 150 years old American democracy as well as gratitude for supporting the Polish cause at the conclusion of World War I. The authors of the dedication page have also expressed the heartfelt thanks for saving thousands of Polish children from starvation at the war’s end and American pilots joining the Kościuszko’s Squadron during the Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921).

Poles have always had a soft place for America in their hearts and in 1926, this reverence led “The Fourth of July Committee” formed in Poland to undertake a massive task of circulating thousands of blank cards to sign that reached even the most remote parts of the country. Among millions of signees were government officials (including the President of Poland, Ignacy Mościcki), school children, artists, soldiers, bankers, students, sportspeople, clergy, scientists and members of numerous organizations, societies and clubs.

After nearly 90 years of being housed in the Library of Congress in Washington DC, this impressive manifestation of Polish-American friendship became a story again after the project of digitizing all of its 111 volumes has been completed in 2017 in cooperation with the Polish Library of Washington and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. All pages of this memorable manuscript are now available online and check it out, many of them are beautifully embellished with drawings, photographs, dried flowers and artwork created by the best Polish graphic artists of the time (click here to view selected pages with descriptions).

Besides reminding us about the historic gesture that many of us have forgotten or never heard about, this is also a great resource for genealogical research. So who knows, you might even find on those pages signatures of your own ancestors or relatives….

The Polish American Congress – Wisconsin Division hosted a booth in the 2017 Polish Fest and many members generously volunteered to share their love for Polish culture and knowledge about our organization. In addition to Stan Grajewski adding an unforgettable accent to our presentation with his Kościuszko uniform, big thanks go also to Robert Bialecki, Danny Carlin, Doris Graiewski, Debbie and Jerry Halkoski, Jan and Dan Klosowski, Ann Pienkos (the coordinator for this event), Don Pienkos, Mark Pienkos, Steve Pienkos, David Rydzewski, Karen Wieckowski and Derek Zarzeczny). To see your smiling face in the volunteer column next year, sign up for the 2018 Polish Fest.

1917-2017 One Hundred Years of White Sox Baseball:

Highlighting the Great 1917 World Series Championship Team

Book published on March 15, 2017 with foreword by Paul Ladewski

“The ultimate read from the most passionate White Sox fan I know. Born on the other side of town’ yet raised on the South Side, White Sox baseball is in his soul” says Doug Calaghan about the recently published book and its author, Dr Mark Pienkos, who we all know so well for his activity in the Polish American Congress.*

There couldn’t be a better time than 2017 for this long-life fan of Chicago’s White Sox to unveil the tale of his favorite baseball team. After all, it was the magnificent 1917 when the team won the World Series, triumphed in 100 games (setting a franchise record that still stands) and had three players inducted into the Hall of Fame. But according to the author, another eight players also deserved the honor and the team had potential to rival the New York Yankees of the 20’s and beyond.

“White Sox fans always come back for more. They are more loyal than a wolf pack.” says Paul Ladewski on the book cover. Such loyalty apparently runs deep in the Pienkos family because the White Sox fans include also Mark’s older brothers and his role models from the early days in South Chicago, Don and Ed.** And surprise, surprise, Mark’s three grown up children, Michelle, Karen and Stephen, are also still cheering for “THEIR” White Sox.

It is clearly a team to remember and a great story to read.

Well done, Mark! Congratulations!
Dobra robota, Mark! Gratulacje!

Visit Mark’s website
to read more about the book, his background and other accomplishments.