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House Speech Polish Constitution Day, May 3, 1955
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4525721
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House Speech Polish Constitution Day, May 3, 1955
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D14, folder "House Speech Polish Constitution
Day, May 3, 1955" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D14 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS, INC.
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BRANCH
231 SPRINGFIELD STREET CHICOPEE. MASS.
TELEPHONE 660
4
HONORARY MEMBERS:
VERY REV. L. CYMAN, PROV.
RT. REV. MSGR. B. BOJANOWSKI
REV. LEONARD PAKULSKI
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
DR. KAROL SMOLCZYNSKI
PRESIDENT
231 SPRINGFIELD ST.
May 10, 1955
CHICOPEE, MASS.
STANLEY S. STELIGA
SECRETARY
78 MAIN ST.
NORTHAMPTON, MASS.
LEOCADIA A. RABINSKA
TREASURER
560 DWIGHT ST.
HOLYOKE, MASS.
BRONISLAWA MIKUSZEWSKA
Hon. Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
38 SCHOOL ST.
House of Representatives,
SO. HADLEY FALLS, MASS.
Washington, D.C.
VICE-PRESIDENTS:
ATTY. C. KULIKOWSKI
NORTHAMPTON. MASS.
ANTHONY MEDESKI
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
CATHERINE NITKIEWICZ
HOLYOKE, MASS.
SOPHIE STERNOWSKA
Dear Sir:
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
WACLAW J. SZEWCZYNSKI
HOLYOKE. MASS.
JOHN ZAREK
ADAMS. MASS.
We read with interest your remarks in the
DELEGATES TO
May 3rd. issue of the Appendix.
NATIONAL COUNCIL:
ALFRED CZARNOTA
EDWARD DOBEK
Since we are very much interested in
ATTY. PAUL P. FLAK
keeping this matter in the forefront, may we
DIRECTORS:
express to you our deep appreciation for
STANISLAUS ARABIK
your efforts.
WILBRAHAM
JOSEPHINE CZAJA
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
FELIX FURTEK
CHICOPEE, MASS.
EDWARD KAROLKIEWICZ
WORCESTER. MASS.
Very truly yours,
STEPHEN KRUKOWSKI
WORCESTER. MASS.
JOSEPH LUDWIN
POLISH AMERICAN CONGERSS, INC.
SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS.
Western Mass. Branch
KONSTANTY MALYSZ
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
FRANCIS OKSENIAK
HOLYOKE, MASS.
EDWARD POPKO
Deocadia President
WESTFIELD, MASS.
JOSEPHINE ROMANIAK
ADAMS, MASS.
MAREK RZASA
ADAMS, MASS.
STANISLAUS SITARZ
lar/mm
CHICOPEE, MASS.
APOLONIA SLOWIKOWSKA
EASTHAMPTON. MASS.
THADEUSZ SZETELA
CHICOPEE, MASS.
STANISLAW WOJTKIEWICZ
HOLYOKE, MASS.
CASIMIR ZAWADZKI
EASTHAMPTON, MASS.
ATTY. EDWARD ZIEMBA
CHICOPEE, MASS.
FORD is LIBRARY 038830
Extension of remarks - Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr.,
Fifth District, Michigan.
May 3, 1955
Mr. Speaker,
On May 3, 1791 the Polish Constitution was
adopted, and that day is now celebrated as Poland's
Constitution Day. It has been said that the Poles have
sometime had a large country, sometime a small one, and
sometime none at all, but nevertheless the Polish people
always staunchly maintained a strong national loyalty
and patriotism.
For this we honor them. We are also grateful to
the thousands of Poles and the millions of Polish-
Americans who have contributed so much to the growth and
strength of these United States.
Count Casimir Pulaski was one of those Polish
volunteers who gave his life for American independence.
Killed during the siege of Savannah, he had distinguished
himself at the Battle of Brandywine, had endured Valley
Forge and had organized an independent cavalry corps
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Page 2
known as "Pulaski's Legion." He died to make us free.
Then there was Thaddeus Kosciusko. He left
Poland in 1776 to serve in Washington's revolutionary
army. Appointed chief engineer in charge of the
construction of West Point, he la ter became adjutant
to General Washington. His work in fortifying the battle-
field at Saratoga contributed greatly to the American
victory in this battle, the turning point of the
Revelutionary War. Today, Kosciusko is memorialized
in Lafayette Park, opposite the White House, as a
hero of American freedom.
It is throgh men like Pulaski and Kosciusko and
thousands of their compatriots, both here and abroad,
that the common bonds of liberty, decency and loyalty
ind our country to the Polish people and nation.
Enslavement, oppression, destruction are no strangers
to the Poles. But neither are hope, struggle and victory.
On this day in which Poland again finds itself in
subjection, this time under the heel of atheistic communism,
we reaffirm our devotion to our common bonds,
This common enemy of America and Free Poland is
no simple power-drunk dictator, He is not a military
FORD is LIBRARY 9EFALD
Page 3
genius merely exploiting his talents, We fight against
a vicious ideology which twists and warps the human mind
and degenerates human beings.
We oppose the enemy because he is morally wrong;
because he denies God, and destroys the dignity and worth
of the human soul.
On this Polish Constitution Day, we invite all
Poles and all peoples everywhere to make common cause
with us against this mortal enemy. The struggle is deep-
seated, difficult, and dangerous. But the Poles are
accustomed to such. They felt the force of Soviet Russia
in 1919, and the power of Adolph Hitler in 1939. But
they also experienced the assistance of their democratic
brethren in those dark days.
Today we share with them the knowledge that wrong
cannot always be on the throne, and that our cause shall
prosper because it is fair, just and right.
BURALO FOOD LIBRARY
Extension of remarks - Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr.,
Fifth District, Michigan.
May 3, 1955
Mr. Speaker,
On May 3, 1791 the Polish Constitution was
adopted, and that day is now celebrated as Poland's
Constitution Day. It has been said that the Poles have
sometime had a large country, sometime a small one, and
sometime none at all, but nevertheless the Polish people
always staunchly maintained a strong national leyalty
and patriotism.
For this we honor them. We are also grateful to
the thousands of Poles and the millions of Polish-
Americans who have contributed so much to the growth and
strength of these United States.
Count Casimir Pulaski was one of those Polish
volunteers who gave his life for American independence.
Killed during the siege of Savannah, he had distinguished
himself at the Battle of Brandywine, had endured Valley
Forge and had organized an independent cavalry corps
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Page 2
known as "Pulaski's Legion." He died to make us free.
Then there was Thaddous Kosciuske. He left
Poland in 1776 to serve in Washington's revelutionary
army. Appointed chief engineer in charge of the
construction of West Point, he la ter became adjutant
to General Washington. His work in fortifying the battle-
field at Saratoga contributed greatly to the American
vietory in this battle, the turning point of the
Revelutionary War. Today, Kosciusko is memorialized
in Lafayette Park, opposite the White House, as a
hero of American freedom.
It is throgh men like Pulaski and Kesciusko and
thousands of their compatriets, both here and abroad,
that the common bonds of liberty, decency and loyalty
ind our country to the Polish people and nation.
Enslavement, oppression, destruction are no strangers
to the Peles. But neither are hope, struggle and victory.
On this day in which Poland again finds itself in
subjection, this time under the heel of atheistic communism,
we reaffirm our devotion to our common bonds.
This common enemy of America and Free Poland is
no simple power-drunk dictator. He is not a military
GERALD FORD
Page 3
genius merely exploiting his talents. We fight against
a vicious ideology which twists and warps the human mind
and degenerates human beings.
We oppose the enemy because he is morally wrong;
because he denies God, and destroys the dignity and worth
of the human soul.
On this Polish Constitution Day, we invite all
Poles and all peoples everywhere to make common cause
with us against this mortal enemy. The struggle is deep-
seated, difficult, and dangerous. But the Poles are
accustomed to such. They felt the force of Soviet Russia
in 1919, and the power of Adolph Hitler in 1939. But
they also experienced the assistance of their democratic
brethren in those dark days.
Today we share with them the knowledge that wrong
cannot always be on the throne, and that our cause shall
prosper because it is fair, just and right.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD