LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring The Syracuse Polish Community Home upon
the occasion of celebrating its 90th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
organizations within our midst, which have demonstrated consistent
excellence while bringing great pride and joy to the citizens of our
great State; and
WHEREAS, One such organization, The Syracuse Community Polish Home,
celebrated its 90th Anniversary this year -- with a Mass at the Basilica
of the Scared Heart, and cocktails, dinner and dancing at the Polish
Home on Saturday, September 20, 2009, at The Syracuse Polish Community
Home in Syracuse, New York; and
WHEREAS, For the past 90 years, The Syracuse Polish Community Home has
served as a cultural hub for first-generation Polish immigrants in Syra-
cuse New York, and subsequently several generations of American citizens
of Polish descent; and
WHEREAS, In 1910, the idea of a Polish Home was born from a picnic
held at Pleasant Beach on Onondaga Lake commemorating the 500th Anniver-
sary of the Battle of Grunwald, when the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
defeated the Teutonic Knights; and
WHEREAS, In July of 1919, the dream of (Gmina Polska), The Syracuse
Polish Community Home, was realized as a cultural meeting place for
Polish immigrants with the purpose of moral and mental improvement of
Polish men and women to assist them in obtaining United States citizen-
ship, to promote an understanding of American ideals and policies, and
to raise the fraternal life of the Polish community to the highest stan-
dards; and
WHEREAS, After continuous fundraising, the cornerstone of The Syracuse
Polish Community Home was dedicated in 1921, and the building quickly
grew to include an auditorium, meeting rooms, libraries, and bowling
alleys; and
WHEREAS, During the ensuing years, youth activities were sponsored,
including championship basketball, baseball, softball, and bowling
teams; and
WHEREAS, Among the present Directors of The Syracuse Polish Community
Home are representatives from the Polish American Veterans, Post 1; the
E. Jablonowski, Post 14, of the Polish Legion of American Veterans; Klub
Bialego Orla (White Eagle Club); Polish Scholarship Fund, Inc.; the
Polish Heritage Club; The St. Cecilla Society of the Polish Roman
Catholic Union; Council 44 of the Polish National Alliance, including
the Queen Jadwiga Society and the St. Louis Society; and
WHEREAS, The Syracuse Polish Community Home currently provides its 700
members with such activities as Polish language classes, Polish cooking
classes, Polish dancing classes, adult soccer and volleyball, a Neigh-
borhood Watch group, Polish dinners, an election day Polish supper,
monthly pancake breakfasts, and a Lenten fish fry; and
WHEREAS, Today's leadership of The Syracuse Polish Community Home is
as enthusiastic, vigorous and hard-working as that of its forebearers,
and the Home continues to stand as a tribute to its founders; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
take the opportunity to honor and pay tribute to The Syracuse Polish
Community Home for its 90 years of tradition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Rob Synakowski, President of The Syracuse Polish Community
Home.