A GRAND MONUMENT befitting the enormity of the Blue Army's contribution to Poland's rebirth after the First World War will be build in Warsaw. The immense statue, a masterpiece by the famous sculptor Andrzej Pitynski, will symbolically show soldiers of the Blue Army crossing the vast waters of the Atlantic to come to Poland's aid.
HISTORY MUST REMEMBER the role of Polish-Americans in the rebirth of Poland after the First World War. Their armed participation deserves an honored place in the thousand-year history of the Polish nation.
POLAND'S REBIRTH WAS SOUGHT by Americans and Poles alike. On February 22, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson delivered his historic proclamation in the United States Congress stating that afree, independent, and autonomic Poland must be established after the War. This proclamation was later codified as the 13th point of the Peace Conference at Versailles. This outcome was the result of monumental efforts to restore Poland by leaders of Polish-American organizations in the United States such as the Polish-Roman Catholic Union, Polish National Union, Polish Falcons, Union of Polish Women, and others. It was also the result of work of leaders of such caiiber as Bishop Pawel Rhode, Dr. Teofil Starzynski, Jan Smulski, Kazimierz Zychlinski; and the American Polonia, with the famous statesman and composer Ignacy J. Padarewski at the forefront.
WORDS OF SUPPORT FOR POLAND were backed by consent of the United States government in 1917 to recruit, on American soil, volunteers for the Polish Anny being organized in France. This army, called Blue after the color of their uniforms, fought on the side of the victorious Allied coalition, and its ideological and patriotic vanguard were volunteers from the United States. Its existence assured that at the Versailles peace conference Polish representatives Roman Dmowski and Ignacy J. Padarewski participated in the deliberations as full members with a mandate from the newly sovereign Polish nation.
POLAND WAS GRATEFUL to its saviors from across the ocean. Jozef Pilsudski, the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, spoke about the volunteers from the United States in the Blue Army on their return home recognizing that they, in spite of lack of personal safety and material rewards, chose a difficult military service in a distant and impoverished country far from their families, rather than serve their own country, the United States.
He concluded his remarks by emphasizing the reason which inspired them to volunteer, stating that This undeniable calling was impossible for you to ignore in spite of the distance - in your hearts it was impossible to silence the great and noble lovefor your homeland.
THIS RECOGNITION HAS BEEN LONG OVERDUE, and Poland had to wait very long for such a monument. In Poland to this day no such symbol of appreciation exists for deeds marked by blood and graves on French and Polish soil, by which the Blue Army demonstrated their noble love for our native country.
A MONUMENT MUST STAND honoring the 25,000 volunteers from America and leaders of American Polonia. They deserve an everlasting place in the history of Poland, an eternal and visible symbol by which great deeds and great leaders are recognized, a monument in the nation's capital, whom they served loyally and with great sacrifice.
CLICK HERE TO SEE LETTER FROM
POLISH ARMY VERERANS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
POLISH ARMY VETERANS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD in building the monument. By the resolution of the XXV General Assembly of the Polish Army Veterans Association of America and the National Headquarters of the P.A.V.A. , and with the support of leading Polish American organizations, and the government of Poland, P.A.V.A. has commenced action toward the erection of a monument dedicated to the military service of Polish Americans.
THE MONUMENT will be build in the center of Warsaw, in Grunwald Square on the Avenue of the Polish Army. The blessing of the cornerstone and the installation of the act of erection will take place on November 10, 1997. The unveiling of the monument will take place on August 15, 1998. The cost of the monument will be over $250,000 for the American side and about the same amount for the government of Poland.
WE APPEAL FOR YOUR HELP. The entire Polonia and friends of Poland should support the building of this monument. It will represent the heritage of Polish Americans, the love for their country even when separated by a vast ocean, and will mark the repayment of a long overdue debt of gratitude to those who made the rebirth of Poland after 123 years of partition possible.
EACH CONTRIBUTOR WILL RECEIVE a receipt, and will be listed in the Commemorative Book which will be on display in the Polish Military Museum in New York City. In addition each donor's name will be published in the official P.A.V.A. publication - Weteran.. Names of organizations and individuals who contribute $5,000 or more will be engraved on the base of the monument.
PLEASE SEND TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO:
Polish Army Veterans Association
National Headquarters, Monument Fund
119 East 15th Street
New York, NY 10003-2392
Web site sponsored by:
Prof.Dr. Z. P. Wesolowski Blue Army Monument Committee P. O. Box 291465 Davie, FL 33329 USA Voice: 954-472-0063 Fax: 954-472-0063 Email to: zwesolowsk@aol.com
