Community Corner
The Casimir Pulaski Day Parade Hits PT Barnum Square
It was a small but enthusiastic crowd that gathered at PT Barnum Square.
A small but easily moved audience stood in the biting cold, and listened to the words of Paul Szatkowski, Bethel's selectman of Polish descendent, as he honored Casimir Polaski, one of only seven people in history of the US to be granted honorary citizenship.
Szatkowski gave a brief talk about Polish heritage in celebration Pulaski, whose name graces towns, bridges, schools and more throughout the US. While Pulaski may be the oldest historic citizen of Poland to grace the shores of the US, there have been many more to follow.
Szatkowski ran a list of famous, and some not so famous, Poles who have had an impact on this country. Here is his list:
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Thaddeus Kosciuszko, another Revolutionary War Hero, who Washington ordered to build forts up the Hudson River; one in particular West Point
In the latter part of the 20th Century:
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Lech Walenza: organizer of freedom against Russian aggression in Poland; the solidarity movement
Karol Wojtila: a polish priest who stood up to the Nazi’s and Communism. He is fondly known as Pope John Paul II
In our own country, we find that the great Polish immigration came after the American Civil War.
These immigrants were seeking freedom from Prussian, Russian and Austrian over-rule.
These people were common individuals who built the infrastructures of our cities.
We only have to look at the various industries ranging from mining, steel, automotive, lumber, agriculture, the expansion of the Midwest and you will find the Polish Heritage.
Most of these immigrants were common people seeking freedom and develop a family in a country of opportunity. The results are sometimes obvious and sometimes hidden.
Hidden by the fact that our Polish surnames exercise the Alphabet in combinations of letters which are nearly impossible to pronounce in the English language. Some individuals Anglicized their last name:
In Film Arts:
Jack Benny
Marilou Henner (TaxI)
Bonnie Hunt
Jane Kaczmarek
Ted Knight (MTM)
Lisa Kudrow (friends)
Stephanie Powers (To catch a thief)
Jack and Sam Warner (Warner Bros Studio)
In Journalism:
Wolf Blitzer
Mika Brezinski
Michelle Kosinski
Jim Miklaszewski
Barbara Walters
Musicians:
Benny Goodman
Gene Krupa
TV Personalities:
Pat Sajac
Steve Wilkos
Politics:
Zbignew Brzezinski
Susan Bysiewicz
Senator Chuck Hagel (Neb)
Leon Jaworski (Prosecutor Watergate)
Senator Ed Muskie (Maine)
Sports:
Carl Yastremski
Stan Musial
Mike Ditka
Joe Klecko
Rob Van Dam (Pro Wrestling)
Technology:
Steve Wozniak (Partner of Steve Jobs and Apple Computers)
Bethel Town Hall:
Bob Kozlowski (Comptroller)
Carol Modzelewski (Finance/Accounting)
Eileen Jelinski (Town Clerk)
Joan Bradley (Kowalski) (Secretary to First Selectman and Asst.Registrar)
Wendy Smith (Administrative Assistant to 1st Selectman)
Dick Kolowicz
Larry Craybas (Chairman of BOE)
Paul Szatkowski
At the end of the small ceremony, Szatkowski offered a blessing in Polish, "Może Bóg Błogosławią nasz kraj Ameriky, nasz miasto Bethel, i nasz ludzie. Dziękują za przybycie dziś."
Szatkowski translated," May God Bless our country the United States of America, our town of Bethel and our people."
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