Polish American Heritage Month

Polish American Heritage Month is an annual designation observed in October. Across the globe, there are about 9.5 million Polish Americans, representing about 3% of the American population.

The first wave of millions of Poles migrated to America between 1800 and 1860. The second and third generations of Poles were born in America in the late 1900s and grew up as Americans with a touch of Polish heritage.

The Polish have always held onto a fierce passion for their culture, their independence, and their new country. October as Polish American Heritage Month holds a special place in the hearts of the Polish American community. It is a testament to the sacrifices and contributions of our compatriots in the service of both their native and adopted homelands and represents the community’s ability to make our voice heard as citizens of the United States.

The observance was established in 1981 by Mr. Michael Blichasz, who served as President of the Polish American Congress Pennsylvania Division and President of the Polish American Cultural Center. As a result of strong advocacy, the House Joint Resolution 577 was passed in 1984, inaugurating August as Polish-American Heritage Month. Two years later, celebrations were moved to October because in that month the first Polish settlers arrived in Jamestown in 1608, and both Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko, Polish American Revolutionary War heroes, died in October.

We, Polish Americans, proudly maintain the traditions and memories of our Polish homeland and cherish the gift of our adopted country, the United States. The histories of Poland and the United States are intertwined through shared heroes and values. Remembering the sacrifices of our ancestors for the cause of freedom both in Poland and abroad, we Polish Americans have a unique passion for the ideals that undergird the freedoms and liberties enshrined in the United States Constitution. We are proud of the contributions made by Polish Americans in defense of these ideals and values. Holding the examples of our predecessors before us, our community resolves to maintain its devotion to liberty, freedom, and the prosperity of both the United States and Poland.

This October, let us celebrate our heritage and commemorate the unbreakable legacy of those who forged the path for us.

Sources:

• National Day Calendar
• Polish American Cultural Center Chairman 07.pdf
• Polish American Congress – Heritage Month
• Dziennik Związkowy
• Polish Culture ACPC