Polish Army Veterans Association Post 90

Safe travels and best wishes on this Independence Day!

Memorial Day 2024 at the Polish Veterans Section in Maryhill Cemetery in Niles, Illinois. The event was organized by the Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois. Representatives from several local Polish organizations and schools were in attendance. One of the speakers was Tadeusz Roman Gubala, a veteran of the Warsaw Uprising. Concluding the ceremony was an honorary salvo fired by reenactors from the 12th Lancers reconstruction group.

Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago Bohaterski Mis Wojtek Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library & Honor Wall Polish Army Veterans Association of America Polska Szkoła im. gen. Władysława Andersa w Des Plaines Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois - Obwód ZHP ChicagoStowarzyszenie Rajd Katynski Pamiec i Tozsamosc USA Polska Szkola im. Mikolaja Kopernika w Niles

Tomorrow at 10:30, Monday, May 27, there will be a ceremony to honor fallen Polish soldiers at the Polish Veterans Section in Maryhill Cemetery in Niles. The event will be in Polish, but all are welcome to attend. It will be led by the Polish Scouting Association.

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in 1944, Corporal Emil Czech played “St. Mary’s Trumpet Call” (Hejnał Mariacki) in front of the Monte Cassino monastery, which the soldiers of General Władysław Anders captured. His photo symbolises the contribution of the Polish Armed Forces in the West to the Allied effort during WWII.
that the bugle call from St. Mary’s Tower (Wieża Mariacka) in Kraków is the longest-running broadcast in the world? It was broadcast for the first time in 1927.

Today is Armed Forces Day- which is celebrated on the third Saturday in May, and it is the day that we, as Americans, get to celebrate our military.

Armed Forces Day is a day to honor all of the men and women currently serving, as well as those who have served and sacrificed to defend our freedom.

On the morning of Sunday, May 12, 2024, a mass in observance of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino was held at St. John Brebeuf church in Niles, Illinois. Following which, a wreath was placed at a soldier's monument in the Polish Veterans Section at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles. Reenactors representing the 12th Podolian Uhlan Regiment, a unit that served in Polish II Corps at the Battle of Monte Cassino, fired an honorary salvo.

In attendance was Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago Dr. Paweł Zyzak.

Although organized by PAVA Post 90, the event would not have been possible without the help of other groups. A large patriotic banner commemorating the Polish soldiers at Monte Cassino was placed at the entrance of St. John Brebeuf church by Bohaterski Mis Wojtek. Representatives from several local Polish schools came, including Polska Szkola im. Mikolaja Kopernika w Niles, Polska Szkoła im. gen. Władysława Andersa w Des Plaines, Szkoła Polska im. 7 Eskadry Kościuszkowskiej przy Konsulacie w Chicago, Polska Szkoła Im. Trójcy Świętej W Chicago, and Polska Szkoła im. Jana Karskiego w Palos Heights.

Also present were scouts from the Polish Scouting Organization, led by druhną Barbarą Chałko, and the Queen of the 2024 Polish Parade in Chicago, Gabriela Ner. A colorful appearance was made by the historical uhlans of the Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Ułanów Polskich im G.TK / Polish Soldiers Society.

Thank you to all who were able to come and pay tribute to Polish soldiers!

12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago
Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago

On May 10, 2009, Sgt. Lukasz Saczek, 23, of Lake in the Hills, Illinois died from injuries sustained during a non-combat related incident. Saczek was assigned to Co. D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment based in Woodstock, Illinois. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they remember him today.

On the evening of Monday April 22, 2024, Post Commander Andrzej Janczak and Post Historian Artur Stasiek from PAVA Post 90 judged posters from middle school aged Polish school students in a regional competition. The subject of the competition was "My Hero from Monte Cassino." Students had to choose a Polish historical figure from the Battle of Monte Cassino and write about them. The posters were judged on historical content and creativity.

Six monetary prizes will be awarded at a gala ceremony on the evening of May 9.

Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated in the competition!

Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library & Honor Wall 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago Bohaterski Mis Wojtek

At this year's Polish Constitution Day parade in Chicago, 2024, PAVA Post 90 marched with its friends at 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago, the 12th Lancers historical reconstruction group, along with Wojtek the Bear from Bohaterski Mis Wojtek. The float this year paid homage to the Polish veterans of the Battle of Monte Cassino on its 80th anniversary. Children were especially drawn to see Wojtek!

Thank you Bohaterski Mis Wojtek and 12 PUŁK Ułanów for putting together a wonderful display. See you next year!

Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago Bohaterski Mis Wojtek 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library & Honor Wall Polish Army Veterans Association of America

The Constitution of May 3rd, 1791 (PL: Konstytucja 3 maja) holds a special place in the hearts of Poles and is commemorated in Chicago Polonia by a parade. The Constitution of May 3rd is considered to be the first national Constitution in Europe and the Second in the world after the United States. The Constitution was one of the last attempts to save the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s sovereignty that had been gradually eroded by corruption of the Szlachta and the interference of its neighbors. The constitution hoped that reform would result in a more functional and stable state. Included amongst these reforms was: the granting of political equality of townspeople and nobility, placing peasants under the government's protection, banned the liberum veto, and although acknowledged Catholicism as the dominant religion granted tolerance and freedom of religion to all other religions. The constitution was met with great hostility not only from Poland’s neighbors but also the members of the Polish Szlachta that opposed it.

Today is Polish Constitution Day! 🇵🇱

Join us on May 12 as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino! A Polish mass dedicated in honor of the Polish veterans will be held at St. John Brebeuf Church in Niles at 11:30 am. Follwing which, the post will lay flowers at the soldier’s monument in the Polish Veterans Section at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles, at 1 pm. 🇺🇸 🇵🇱

Polish Consulate in Chicago Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago Polska Szkoła im. gen. Władysława Andersa w Des Plaines Bohaterski Mis Wojtek Bohaterski Mis Wojtek Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library & Honor Wall 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago

‼ Join the Polish National Alliance on Thursday, May 2, 2024, as we celebrate one of our most cherished traditions — the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tadeusz Kosciuszko monument in Chicago. Together we will commemorate the 232nd anniversary of the Polish Constitution and honor the extraordinary life of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. 🇵🇱🇺🇸

Polish Parade

This past Saturday, April 20, General Anders Polish School in Des Plaines hosted a celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino. For two hours, the students engaged in games, singing, and other creative activities. Teachers tested the students' knowledge of World War II history and the Battle of Monte Cassino, in which the Polish II Corps participated in.

In attendance was a group of Polish and American military veterans. From Polish Army Veterans Association Post 90 was Post Commander Andrzej Janczak, Tomasz Dąbrowski, and Artur Stasiek. The American veterans included Richard Wojewnik, Thaddeus Szewczyk, and Barney Dufner, from VFW Post 5979 in River Grove, along with Dale Tippett of American Legion Post 806 in Chicago. Wojciech Świć of the 12th Lancers reenactment group came in his Polish II Corps uniform. Also in attendance was Polish army veteran Jan Puchała.

Post 90 would like to thank General Anders Polish School for inviting us for a wonderful afternoon! The students did a wonderful job in making the event spectacular.

Polska Szkoła im. gen. Władysława Andersa w Des Plaines
Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago
12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago
Polish Consulate in Chicago
Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library & Honor Wall

On Friday, March 8, 2024, Dr. Paweł Zyzak, Consul-General of Poland in Chicago, awarded Chicago resident Mrs. Zofia Biernadska the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit on behalf of the Republic of Poland. Mrs. Biernadska is a World War II veteran who was present at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, which claimed the lives of over 900 Polish soldiers. She tended and comforted injured soldiers brought off the front lines.

In April 1940, Mrs. Biernadska and her family were herded onto boxcars by Soviet soldiers and deported from her home in Poland and sent to Siberia. She was one of the 120,000 Polish military personnel and civilians that were evacuated from the Soviet Union to Iran during the period of 1941 and 1942. In Iran, Mrs. Biernadska joined the Women's Auxiliary Service of the Polish Army, assigned to 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company. After the war she briefly lived in England and married another Polish army veteran and in 1948, emigrated to Argentina. She and her family would later move to the United States and settle in Chicago.

Mrs. Biernadska's award is in recognition of her decade's long activism in the Polish community of Chicago. She was a member of the Polish Combatant's Association (SPK), currently is a member of the Polish Army Veterans Association (PAVA), gave countless presentations to students at Polish language schools, and has a strong affiliation with the Polish Scouting Association.

The award ceremony was attended by her family, members of the Polish Consul in Chicago, and representatives from Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago, 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago, and from Polish Army Veterans Association Post 90. PAVA Post 90 congratulates our fellow member for recognition of her life's work!

Polish Consulate in Chicago

Today, Polish Army Veterans Association (PAVA) Post 90 hosted a history lecture on the Battle of Monte Cassino at General Wladyslaw Anders Polish School in Des Plaines. The lecture was presented by post members Tomasz Dąbrowski and Artur Stasiek. They were joined by Polish army airborne veteran Jan Puchała, and United States Marine Corps veterans Richard Wojewnik and Barney Dufner, both from Central Leyden VFW Post 5979 in River Grove.

The veterans first visited classrooms and spoke with younger students about the meaning of being a veteran. Then the guests presented their lecture, along with additional information on the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, the symbolic meaning behind red poppies, and on the Polish Veterans Section at Maryhill Catholic Cemetery in Niles. Following the lecture students had the chance to handle original military equipment from World War II.

PAVA Post 90 would like to thank Polska Szkoła im. gen. Władysława Andersa w Des Plaines for inviting us. The lecture would not have been possible without the help of our friends Jan Puchala, Richard Wojewnik, and Barney Dufner. We hope to continue our partnership with the school and with our friends at VFW Post 5979 in River Grove. The event was made successful thanks to a joint Polish-American cooperation, just like at the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Bohaterski Mis Wojtek
Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago
12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago
Polish Consulate in Chicago
Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library & Honor Wall

Photos of Polish Army Veterans Association (PAVA) Post 90's home at 6021 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago. The post purchased the property in early 2013 and remained there until 2022.

Post 90 was established in November 1925 by veterans of the Polish Blue Army in France, volunteers from the United States, who signed up to fight for Polish independence in World War I. Over 20,000 volunteers enlisted in the U.S. and Canada. Chicago recruited the most men out of all the recruiting stations.

The post accepts veterans of the Polish military, veterans of the U.S. military of Polish heritage, and associate members.

One of the many Polish veterans that settled in Chicago after World War II was Adam Stanislaw Wolanin. He would go on to represent the United States at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil!

Holocaust Remembrance Day | PMA On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Polish Museum of America pays tribute to the victims, survivors, and heroes through poignant artifacts, urging us to educate, remember, and stand against all forms of oppression.

On 22 October 2023, at the 53rd Annual Polish Heritage Ball in Chicago hosted by the Polish American Congress (PAC), our very own PAVA Post 90 member Zofia Biernadska was recognized with a special award. Mrs. Biernadska became the first recipient of the Charles Rozmarek Award, instituted in 2023, bestowed upon individuals whose achievements and exemplary attitude in life serve as an inspiration to others.

Mrs. Biernadska was born on 22 December 1922, in the town of Gródek Jagielloński, which is now Horodok, Ukraine. At the start of WWII, she became separated from her parents whom she never saw again. In 1940 she was deported by the Soviet authorities to Siberia and was later evacuated to Kazakhstan, where she joined the Women's Auxiliary Service (PSK) of the Polish Army. She participated in the Italian Campaign as a member of the 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company. At the Battle of Monte Cassino, she tended to wounded Polish servicemen.

Following the war Mrs. Biernadska married a fellow Polish Army veteran and emigrated to Argentina. The family relocated to the United States in 1965 and settled in Chicago. An ardent activist for veteran's affairs, she participated in several veterans' associations, and cooperated with Polish schools in the Chicago area.

We, the members of PAVA Post 90, would like to congratulate Mrs. Biernadska on her lifetime achievement award!

Polish Army Veterans Association of America Bohaterski Mis Wojtek Przystanek Historia IPN Chicago 12 PUŁK Ułanów Chicago Polish American Congress, Illinois Division

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World War II Days at Midway Village in Rockford is in two days! It starts on Saturday, September 30, and ends Sunday, October 1. Come see military vehicles, displays, and skirmishes, carried out by dozens of WWII historical reenactment groups. Several Polish groups will also be in attendance.

WWII Days | World War 2 Days at Midway Village Museum in Rockford IL The largest World War II re-enactment in the Midwest brings together over 1000 reenactors and dozens of authentic military vehicles for this one-of-a-kind special event.

Memorial Day 2023 at the Polish Veterans Section in Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, Niles.

Dzień Pamięci 2023 w Kwatera Polskich Weteranów na Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, Niles.