Polish American Congress
Western New York Division
Polish American Congress Western New York Division
P.O. Box 1242
Buffalo, NY 14240
United States
administ
N E W S
OFFICAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT THE KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM
The Spirit of Compassion
Herbert Hoover and America's Help to Poland in its Hour of Need
L-R in photo - Judge Michael Pietruszka - Board Member PAC, Mary Lou, Michel Zachowicz, VP PAC, Dr. Peter GessnerExhibit on display through September 30, 2008 - Tuesday thru Saturday 11 am to 4 pm at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum at 453 Porter Avenue, Buffalo NY 14201 Admission is free! In front of the Hoover displays
L-R photo - Judge Michael Pietruszka, Bernadine (Dina) Szymanski, Mira Szramel - Board Members PAC - Michael Zachowicz VP PAC
August 4, 2008
Our eleventh annual Christian Holocaust - Polish Remembrance Day observance will take place on Saturday, August 16, at St. Stanislaus Cemetery's Resurrection Mausoleum. The Sacred Eucharistic Liturgy will be celebrated at 12 Noon by our Chaplain, Bishop Edward M. Grosz. As in years past, the Saturday closest to the feast of St. Maximillian Kolbe (Aug. 14) is chosen for this event to make it convenient for the greatest number of people to attend. This annual event reminds us of the terror and horror suffered by those interned and murdered in German Nazi concentration camps as well as those deported to Siberia and held in Stalin's gulags. This commemorative observance being held in conjunction with Saint Maximillian's feast day is in keeping with a resolution passed by the National Polish American Congress.
Six million Poles (half were Christians. half were Jews) were among the 11 million death camp victims throughout Europe. We will NOT allow the fact that 3 million Christian Poles killed in World War II be forgotten or shunned as nonexistent. They were more than "and others." As Christians, our prayers are for ALL of God's people. Several survivors will be with us at this Mass.
We ask you and anyone else you know to share this one-hour (of your life) with us to pray for our blood brothers and sisters who suffered so heinous a crime whose lives were exterminated because they were Polish.
If you know of any living concentration camp survivors in our area, please let me know of them and how they can be reached. Also encourage them to join us if they are able.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Macieląg
Religious Events Coordinator
“The Spirit of Compassion,” a just opened major exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 453 Porter Ave., Buffalo, illustrates Herbert Hoover’s special relationship with the people of Poland.
Its primary focus is on the extraordinary humanitarian effort Hoover mounted to bring relief to the people of Poland in the wake of World War I. After more than a century of occupation by its three autocratic neighbors and four years of having been a principal WWI battleground, the devastated country had just regained its independence.
The exhibit, originally curated by Dr. Zbigniew Stanczyk of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, is open from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. daily except on Mondays. It features many historic photographs, documents in facsimile, posters and a number of maps. It is scheduled to remain open through Sept. 30, 2008.
It reveals aspects of Hoover’s character and achievements, eclipsed in the popular narrative by the later linking of his presidency with the Great Depression. It documents the massive scale of the relief effort mounted in Poland by the American Relief Administration Hoover headed, an effort that, in the period between 1919 and 1922, provided a daily meal to over 1.3 million children, and furbished each of them with a winter coat and a pair of shoes. And, in 1919, it also involved organizing medical help to stem a typhus epidemic that began to ravage the country.
While still a student, Hoover had met the great concert pianist, composer, and fervent Polish patriot Ignacy Paderewski. An enduring friendship developed between the two men. It gained an additional dimension when, in 1919, Paderewski became, with Hoover’s backing, the renascent Poland’s first prime minister.
There were many expressions of gratefulness for the help Poland received, among them a Monument of Gratitude to the United States erected in the center of Warsaw on Hoover Square. It featured a fountain in the middle of which, as shown on one of the exhibit’s historic photographs, stood two women back to back, representing the U.S. and Poland, respectively, each holding infants on her shoulders. The exhibit’s historic photographs also show Warsaw’s huge annual celebrations of America’s Independence Day, July 4th which, in his honor, was referred to as “Hoover Day.”
Come World War II, Hoover resumed his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the starving children of Poland, both during the early years of World War II, while American neutrality made this feasible, and in the war’s wake.
First shown at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the exhibit toured four other major Polish cities: Poznan, Lodz, Krakow and Katowice. It was also shown in New York City and Philadelphia before coming to Buffalo, where it was brought by the action of the Western New York Division of the Polish American Congress with the support of several other Polonian organizations.
The Buffalo showing of the exhibit is being curated by Peter K. Gessner with the help of Michael Zachowicz, vice president of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress.
Polish American Congress
WNY Division Presents
The Spirit of Compassion
Herbert Hoover and America’s Help to Poland in its Hour of Need
An exhibition of photos, documents, posters and banners from Poland’s National Archives and those of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
DATE:
June 14, 2008 through September 30, 2008
TIME:
Tuesday thru Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE:
Karpeles Manuscript Museum
435 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14201
(100 yards west of Kleinhans Music Hall)
GRAND OPENING DATE: July 12th 2008
SPONSORS:
- Polish American Congress, WNY Division
- Roman Catholic Union of America
- Permanent Chair of Polish Cultures at Canisius College
- Karpeles Manuscript Museum
- Chopin Singing Society
- Kosciuszko Foundation’s WNY Chapter
- Polish Cultural Foundation
- Polish Union of America
In 1919, Herbert Hoover, having visited
Poland in the wake of WWI, reported to the Polish Convention meeting in Buffalo, that: “Between three and four million of Poles had died of starvation and disease. … The Russians had ruthlessly destroyed thousands of square miles in an effort to create a desert that might retard the advance of the German armies. … The Germans also systematically abstracted at the point of the bayonet every resource of Poland. This together with the destruction of her farms and the looting of every bit of agricultural machinery, left millions of Poles at the Armistice threatened with starvation.”The exhibit’s hundreds of historical photographs, documents and maps detail the truly massive relief effort
Hoover mounted and managed an effort that earned him and America the lifelong gratitude of the Poles.
The City of Krakow issued a proclamation calling him “a man to whom hundreds of thousands of our country’s people owe their survival.” And Warsaw erected a statue in his honor. Prior to coming to Buffalo, the exhibit was shown in Warsaw’s Royal Castle, in Krakow, Katowice, Poznan, Lodz, Stanford, New York City and Philadelphia.
Keeping its commitment to the local Veterans Organizations the Polish American Congress, WNY Division has cleaned up, planted flowers and set Polish & American flags at the Polish Veterans Plot at St. Stan's Cemetery. This project was done in the time the annual Memorial Day celebration. Close to 200 Polish Army / Air Force / Navy Veterans who served and fought on all fronts during World War II rest at the Cemetery.
Richard B Solecki, PAC President, SWAP Post 1 Commander Stanley Przystal, SPK 33 Commander Janusz Nieduzak
THE VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM
MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
1521 Sixteenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20036 • Tel: 202-589-1991 • Fax: 443-276-6789
E-mail: info@victimsofcommunism.org
Web site: www.victimsofcommunism.org
A CALL FOR EXHIBITS AND INFORMATION
FOR
THE GLOBAL MUSEUM ON COMMUNISM
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is dedicated to memorializing the more than 100 million victims of communism. We believe that informing people around the world about communism is crucial to preventing its resurgence.
We have therefore begun a global effort to educate the public about the dark era of communism through an online museum. Slated to open in early 2009, the Global Museum on Communism will tell the complete history, philosophy and legacy of communism.
We recognize that many institutions have collected great amounts of information and artifacts regarding communism. Our goal is to electronically link these efforts and spark new collection efforts before the evidence is forever lost.
Our museum will network with regional museums, educational institutions and ethnic associations from around the world in one common educational mission. It will serve as an online "meeting place" for scholars, researchers and activists to interact and build their research and educational capabilities.
We invite you join us. We ask you to help create an online exhibit that tells the unique story of your family, community, people or nation, including those who suffered under communism and those who successfully resisted it.
You can view a preview site of our Museum at http://www.globalmuseumoncommunism.org
Please contact our Director of Public Affairs, Ed Priola by e-mail or telephone for more details: +1 202 589 1991, info@victimsofcommunism.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lee Edwards
Chairman
On August 5, the Bisons will be holding the annual Polish Festival Night, with a pre-game tent party including Polish music, dancers, and food. This year we will be honoring Jackie Schmid for her contributions to the Polish community.
Polish Festival Night
@ DunnTirePark
August 5th
(Programs will be handed out at tent party)
Bisons Polish-American of the Year, Jackie Schmid, will be honored for her years of service within the local Polish community
Food and Drink Specials
Live Polish Music from The Knewz
Contact John Pogorzelski by calling 846-2021, faxing 852-6530
or e-mail BisonsSalesInterns@bisons.com
Dear Friend of the Polish-American Community (Polonia!),
The Polish American Congress, Western New York Division, invites YOU to join our organization, which serves as a representative voice for, and promoter of, Polish and Polish-American causes.
We need YOU, as someone who appreciates Polish history, culture and traditions to strengthen our organization with your membership. Together we can continue to instill generations with understanding of Polish and Polish-American contributions to civilization well into the 21st century.
Founded in Buffalo, New York in 1944, the Polish American Congress championed Poland’s cause during World War II and throughout the Cold War. We continue, both locally and nationally, to address contemporary issues pertinent to Poland and Polonia in America today.
The Polish American Congress promotes inter-cultural and inter-faith dialog with ethnic and religious groups, defends Polonia from defamation and discrimination.
The membership of the Polish American Congress consists of both individuals and other organizations that serve Polonia. These include cultural, religious, fraternal, veteran and student groups.
Your ideas and vision are welcomed to help build an even stronger, better-informed Polonia! Please consider joining today.
Thank You,
The Membership Committee
To join or to learn more about The Polish American Congress W.N.Y. Division go to CONTACT US button on the top
“W jednosci jest sila!” (In unity there is strength!)
COUNTYEXECUTIVE CHRIS COLLINS PRESENTS PROCLAMMATION TO POLISH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP……..
On May 28, 2008 Erie County Executive Chris Collins presented Richard B. Solecki President of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress, a proclamation in recognition of the May 3rd Polish Constitution and Polish Heritage Month. Members of the Polish American Congress Board and Local Polish Veterans participated in the ceremony.
Fox Television and depiction of truth
A FOX television Nov. 14, 2008 episode of "Back to You" slandered Poles and those with Polish Roots. A Polish character with a butchered Polish name was being pressured to join a bowling team because he was told it is in his "Polish blood like kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis".
This was not a slip of the tongue slur. It was slander written by highly paid scriptwriters, passed by highly paid editors and approved by highly paid directors and programmers.
This was slander written to get a laugh at the expense of all with Polish blood and to get favorable viewing ratings and in the end a profit from more and more expensive commercials. It is a fact, commercials become more costly if there is a bigger viewing audience.
Innocent Poland on Sept 1, 1939 was attacked by the full might of German military machine. Nobody came actively to Poland's defense. On Sept 17, the Soviets attacked Poland with a stab in the back.
Unable to fight any longer, Poles gave up... sort of. Instead facing total annihilation, Poles formed the biggest underground army the world has ever known. This army sabotaged German installations and harassed German forces to the degree that thousands of German troops were forced to stay behind the lines to protect rear installations.
Then followed the elimination of Polish intelligentsia. The German used death camps such as the one at Dachau while the Soviets committed the most heinous of crimes by murdering some 22,000 in the Katyn Forests while forcibly moving more than a million Poles into Siberia. At this time, Zegota was formed to save Jews whose fate was sealed at the Wannsee conference. And, all this was going on despite the fact that only in Poland of all German occupied lands was it a crime punishable by immediate death if Jews were given any help. Not only did the individual face death but his family and neighbors as well. Irene Sendler of Zegota is now being hailed as a special heroine said to have help save some 2,500 Jewish children.
By confronting Germany and Soviet Russia in battle, the French and British were given time to muster their forces. Polish pilots saved Britain and the Battle of the English Skies. Polish mathematicians gave the Allies the most potent weapon of the war, solving the German code machine Enigma. And, it was the Poles who captured Monte Cassino and opened the way for Allies troops to move onto Rome.
At every step of the way, Polish troops distinguished themselves on the battlefield with courage as did those who suffered at home under the murderous rule of the Germans and Soviets. And, Polish American were no less courageous in combat. It is a Polish American Lt. Col. Matt Urbanowicz Urban who is the most decorated combat veteran in American history. Fighter pilot Col. Francis Gabreski is the WWII top ace.
In view of the courage displayed by those with Polish blood, I with the following resolution ask the Western New York Chapter of the Polish American Congress to petition the Mother Polish American Congress in Chicago to start a lawsuit against FOX Television for the slander committed in the Nov. 14 episode of "Back to You."
Be it resolved:
WHEREAS FOX Television deliberately wrote into its Nov. 14 episode slander relative to Polish and Polish American courage, and
WHEREAS this deliberate slander injured Poles and Polish Americans mentally and socially and,
WHEREAS Poles have had endure the harm written at their expense so as FOX Television could improve its ratings which could then be translated into higher monetary returns from advertisers,
THEREFORE we petition the Polish American Congress to enter into a class action lawsuit seeking slander damages of at least $5000,000,000. In addition, leave room for a suit demanding punitive damages to be determined by jury if necessary.
Also, we petition that FOX TV in prime television time issue an on air spoken apology and promote a showing of "Without Pity or Mercy" directed by Wiktor Meller (Hubbard Broadcasting 1990.)
Also, this resolution be sent to all Polish Americans in the United States Congress asking their written support of this resolution.
Sincerely,
Edward S. Wiater
Polish American Congress Western New York Division
P.O. Box 1242
Buffalo, NY 14240
United States
administ
