On the weekend of October 12-13, 2024, the Polish American Congress (PAC) gathered in Chicago to celebrate 80 years of dedicated advocacy. Members from across the United States, along with guests from Poland, assembled at the O’Hare Tech Center to commemorate this milestone and renew their shared commitment to advancing the interests and heritage of Polish Americans.
Representatives from each chapter, including PAC of Southern California, attended the Council of National Directors Meeting, where discussions focused on the organization’s future and the preservation of Polish history. A key point of the meeting was a resolution addressing the Volhynian massacre, a solemn reminder of a painful chapter in Polish history. This resolution urges the Ukrainian government to acknowledge the massacre of approximately 100,000 Polish civilians between 1943 and 1945, carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and local collaborators. Through this resolution, PAC advocates for formal recognition of this tragedy, the respectful exhumation, and proper burial of the victims to honor their memory and recognize its historical significance. The resolution also serves as a call for reflection by the Ukrainian government, which has yet to take substantial steps to resolve this historical matter—a subject that continues to impact Polish-Ukrainian relations. The full text of this resolution will be available on the PAC website.
As the weekend progressed, attendees had the opportunity to view Trails of Hope: The Odyssey of Freedom, an IPN-led exhibition highlighting the Polish Armed Forces’ contributions during World War II. Presented by Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), the exhibition reinforced PAC’s commitment to preserving the historical and cultural ties that unite Polish Americans with their roots. In his remarks, President Nawrocki underscored the need to honor and maintain Polish identity within diaspora communities. He was joined by Director Karol Piskorski of IPN’s Łódź branch, who reflected on Poland’s 25-year membership in NATO, the enduring importance of the alliance, and the strong transatlantic ties between Poland and the United States.
The celebration also drew bipartisan participation from U.S. political leaders. Dr. Monica Crowley, former advisor to President Donald Trump, spoke passionately about her family’s immigrant journey and the Polish American pursuit of the American Dream. During the event, President Trump shared a phone call with PAC President Frank Spula, expressing his steadfast support for Polish Americans and Poland’s role as a close ally of the United States.
Vice President Kamala Harris was represented by former Congressman Thomas Malinowski and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, who highlighted six pillars of U.S.-Poland relations: security, humanitarian collaboration, energy, business, democratic values, and people-to-people connections. More about his remarks can be found here. Ambassador Brzezinski emphasized how these areas of partnership continue to reinforce the strong ties between both nations.
PAC’s 80th-anniversary celebration exemplified the organization’s enduring mission. As members reflected on eight decades of service, they looked forward to building on PAC’s legacy, fostering unity among Polish Americans, and strengthening their collective bond with Poland.
By Paulina Rezendes.
