LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim April 20, 2009, as Polish American Congress Day in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, In 1944, the Polish American Congress was established
nationally to represent the international and domestic concerns of Amer-
icans of Polish descent before the government of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Polish American Congress sought to sustain hopes for
freedom of the people of Poland as the years of terror and suffering
under brutal Nazi German oppression were ending, only to be followed by
another oppressive communist government imposed by Soviet Russia; and
WHEREAS, The Polish American Congress resolutely articulated and advo-
cated the moral and strategic imperatives for sustaining aid and support
for Poland beginning with the disheartening days following revelation of
the Yalta Agreement, thence throughout the bitter, dark days of the Cold
War, and through the oppressive period of martial law on the eve of the
demise of communism in Central and East Europe; and
WHEREAS, The Polish American Congress sought to educate all Americans
about the origin of the contributions of the Polish people to the rich
diversity of American life that began with the arrival in 1608 of the
first Poles in the Jamestown Colony of Virginia, and blossomed with the
distinguished military service of Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pula-
ski during America's War of Independence; and
WHEREAS, On April 4, 1998, the Polish American Congress initiated
actions and prevailed on the United States Senate to ratify the Proto-
cols of Accession to the NATO Treaty, thereby granting membership to
Poland; and beginning in 1999, worked with the Department of State to
prevail on the governments of Germany and Austria to compensate Poles
who were victims of forced industrial and farm labor during World War
II; and
WHEREAS, The Polish American Congress, representing the fifth largest
European ethnic group in the United States, has always stressed the
principles of social responsibility, service, and civic virtue among all
citizens of our great Nation, the United States of America; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 20, 2009, as
Polish American Congress Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.