As the Polish American Congress is celebrating its 80th anniversary, we’re celebrating with them.
In June 1944 in Buffalo, NY, 2,500 Polish diaspora members and Catholic priests from 26 states founded a body that could and would become an umbrella organization for a number of Polish unions and associations in America, consolidate the community and represent 10 million Polish Americans. The foremost goal, however, and one that has been achieved, was the restoration of a free and sovereign Poland.
It’s the Congress efforts that contributed to the naturalization of 150,000 Polish war refugees, support for the establishment of Radio Free Europe, pushing for the Katyn Massacre investigation by the Madden Committee, backing Reagan administration in imposing sanctions on the communist regime of Poland for introducing martial law in 1981, or, more recently, lobbying for Polish membership in the NATO or Polish American Enterprise Fund.
Representing the IPN at the anniversary gala, President Karol Nawrocki said
"It is a great honor to be here with you on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Polish American Congress, which brings together Polish organizations from almost all corners of the United States […] helping to preserve their Polish identity and maintain ties with their native country. Please let me say that across the Atlantic, the Institute of National Remembrance works towards a similar goal. We operate on all continents, from the Americas, through Europe, to Africa and Australia, supporting the Polish community, helping them preserve their Polishness, maintain a bond with their homeland, and reminding them about the most glorious pages of Polish history."
True to his word, President Nawrocki opened the IPN flagship "Trails of Hope, the Odyssey of Freedom” exhibition in the Chicago O’Hare Tech Center. The project the exhibition is part of aims to commemorate the military effort of the Polish Armed Forces during World War II and the stories of civilians evacuated from the USSR with the Anders Army. Launched in March 2022, it has already visited dozens of cultural institutions worldwide, and that journey is far from over.
President Nawrocki also highlighted the historical ties connecting Poland and the US emphasizing the merits of Polish heroes such as General Tadeusz Kosciuszko and General Kazimierz Pulaski, as well as the valuable archival materials acquired by the Institute of National Remembrance, which have contributed to a better understanding of the history of the Polish community, including distinguished figures:
Thanks to the documents handed over to the IPN Archive by the Polish Falcons of America, we have been able to find out much more about the biography of such figures as Agnieszka Wisła. Her fate may be seen as a symbol of the glorious shared history of the American-Polish community. We are also very grateful for the incredibly valuable documents which the Institute has acquired thanks to our cooperation with other Polish-American organizations, such as the Polish-American newspaper “Dziennik Związkowy”, the Polish American Congress, the Kościuszko Foundation in New York, the Józef Pilsudski Institute of America, the Polish Army Veterans’ Association in America, and the Legion of Young Polish Women.
Karol Piskorski, the Director of the IPN Branch Office in Łódź - a former commando of the elite GROM military unit - recalled that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO:
- Our membership in NATO depended to a large extent on the decision of the United States. It was crutial for the American elite to realize that NATO enlargement would strengthen not only the security of the former Soviet bloc countries, but also of Europe as a whole. Since the signing of the treaty was decided by senators representing all states, the support of voters of Polish descent proved extremely important. For this I thank you today, aware that we have not let you down.
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On 12 and 13 October, the IPN delegation with President Karol Nawrocki and Head of the International Cooperation Office Agnieszka Jędrzak visited Chicago, IL, where the Polish American Congress was celebrating its 80th anniversary.
President Nawrocki and Polish American Congress President Frank J. Spula chaired a seminar on the Volhynian Crime, a World War II massacre of Poles by Ukrainian nationalists.
"We gave invaded Ukraine our full support and assistance, but in return are getting no understanding or pity for the murder victims, our fellow Poles. I briefed President Spula on the Ukrainian standing in that matter, and I'm counting on him to back our efforts, in the name of historical justice and respect for the murdered. I expect the voice of the Polish diaspora in America to be heard," said the IPN President Karol Nawrocki, referring to the IPN attempts to carry out the exhumations and burials of the Volhynian Crime victims.
The Institute delegation also took part in the Day of Appreciation for Polish Teachers in Chicago, held by the Polish Teachers' Association of America. The PTAA is a body that organizes and supports Polish-American teachers helping Polish and American students broaden and enrich their American-based education with the Polish language, history and culture.
President Nawrocki addressed the assembled teachers:
"Teachers ... must arm all students with skills, values, self-awareness and identity, which will guide them through life. It's a great responsibility and huge task you embrace, and I thank you for doing that."