PRCUA: Official News Release

(Photos) Chicago, IL - The State of Illinois official Pulaski Day celebration was once again
held at the Polish Museum of America (PMA). The Great Hall was filled with a full capacity crowd who came to honor the great American Revolutionary War hero, General Casimir Pulaski.

An honor guard was formed by the Kosciuszko Guards in American Revolutionary War uniforms and by the World War II Polish Historical Association, dressed in vintage WWII military uniforms.

Guests were warmly welcomed in English by PMA President Maria Ciesla and in Polish by Director of the Museum, Jan Lorys. Master of Ceremonies PMA Chair Wallace Ozog was introduced and he called upon Most Rev. Thad J. Jakubowski, DD, Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Chicago, for the invocation.

Ola Podowska, a member of the PRCUA Polonia Dance Ensemble, sang the Polish and American National Anthems.

Hon. Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, addressed the assembly, speaking about the large number of Poles who reside in Chicago and how grateful Americans are for heroes like General Pulaski. Hon. Ariel E. Reboyras, Alderman, 30th Ward. City of Chicago, also spoke and even courageously attempted to speak in Polish.

This year, for the first time, Jewel-Osco selected the PMA to coordinate its annual Jewel-Osco scholarship program that presented scholarships to Polish college students. Miguel Alba, Public Affairs Director for Jewel-Osco, presented a $1,000 check to each of five winning students: Thomas Bielawiec- Maine South High School, of Park Ridge, IL; Stephanie Domagalski - Purdue University, of West Dundee, IL; Teddy Kent - University of Chicago, of Chicago, IL; Joanna Klekowicz, Boston College, of Chicago, IL; and Marzena Medlak, Northwestern University, of Palos Hills, IL. Best wishes are extended to all the scholarship recipients.

Linda Morris, Executive President of Retail Banking National City Bank, graciously presented a check of $5,000 to the Polish Museum from National Bank. The check was accepted with much gratitude by PMA President Maria Ciesla, Chair Wallace Ozog and Dir. Jan Lorys.

Dr. Lidia Filus, President of Council of Educators in Polonia and Hanna Kapica, Council Membership Secretary, presented awards to the winning students of the 8th Annual Young Talent Awards in Performing and Visual Arts. Performing Arts winners were: Aleksandra Szabla, Sebastian Szymanski and Konrad Rula; Visual Arts were: Particia Szymanski. Essay winners were: Aleksandra Kwasny, Kyle Ochwat, Agnes Otap, Ernest Stapor, and Mateusz Drozd. Winners had their photos taken with Mayor Daley and other dignitaries. Congratulations go to all winners.

Hon. Zygmunt Matynia, Republic of Poland Consul General in Chicago, addressed the crowd, as did Hon. Aurelia Pucinski, Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County; Hon. Jan Schakowsky, Representative, U.S. Congress - 9th District; and Hon. Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County.

Pianist Daniel Schafer, 11, entertained everyone with selections chosen in honor of the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin. He won a Gold Medal in the 2010 Illinois Grade School Music Association Solo Contest and several other prestigious awards. He has been playing piano for only 4 years.

Friend of Polonia, Maria Pappas - Cook County Treasurer greeted everyone in Polish and Frank Spula, President of Polish American Congress and Polish National Alliance, was also a speaker.

Miguel Alba, Jewel-Osco Public Affairs Director, then presented a check in the amount of $5,000 from Jewel-Osco to the Polish Museum, which was most appreciated. Simon Wlodarski - Deputy Chief of Staff Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs presented the Proclamation from the State of Illinois to Chairman Wallace Ozog on behalf of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

Other dignitaries present included: Judy Baar Topinka, former IL Treasurer; Hon. K. Wasowicz, Mayor, Justice, IL; Commander Judith Martin, 13th District CPD; Col. Andrzej Kopacki, Asst. Defense and Military Attache, Embassy of Rep. of Poland; Commissioner Tom Peraica, 16th District, Chicago; Stephanie Neely, Chicago City Treasurer; Hon. Arlene Jezierny, Mayor, Harwood Hts., IL; Hon. Paul Stralka, Circuit Court Judge; Michael Gadzinski, Trustee, Harwood Hts., IL; Joseph Berrios, Commissioner Cook Co. Bd. of Review; Herb Hernandez & Anna Kadzielawa of Parkway Bank; Tom Adamson, IFC Pres.; Dirk Wales, author of “Twice a Hero”; Hon. Mark Dobrzycki, Alderman, Harwood Hts., IL; PMA officers Vice Chair Anna Sokolowski; V.P. Joan Kosinski, V.P. Richard Owsiany, Secretary Geraldine Balut Coleman; Acting Treasurer Mitchelle Kmiec and many Directors.

The program concluded with Most Rev. Thad. J. Jakubowski offering the benediction and with the dignitaries laying a wreath before the huge painting of General Pulaski in the Battle of Savannah, by S. Batowski, which hangs in the Great Hall. Ola Podowska led everyone in the singing of “God Bless America” and the public was invited to a reception in the Social Hall.

As guests left the parking lot, they encountered Chicago Police Officer Julio Lucotti, Jr., who had been directing traffic at the annual Pulaski Day celebration for 15 years. He is about to retire from the police force and the PMA thanked him for his service by presenting him with a caricature drawing of himself by artist Kazimierz Burzynski.