POLISH CONSTITUTION OBSERVANCES
IN CHICAGO WERE HISTORIC

Chicago, Illinois - The Observances of the May 3rd Polish Constitution Day in Chicago had become historic this year for the Polish National Alliance and Polonia in Chicago. This marked the 216th Anniversary of the Polish Constitution.

Many events took place on the first weekend in May, 2007, where the PNA participated. The annual Polish Constitution Day Parade was held in Downtown Chicago on Satruday afternoon. Mayor Richard M. Daley along with our officers President, Frank Spula, Vice Presidents Teresa Abick and Paul Odrobina and Secretary Z. John Ordon, with the many leaders of Polish Organizations led the parade down  Columbus Drive. For the first time in the history of the Parade and the Polish Constitution Day Observances, the Official Government delegation from Warsaw came to Chicago to partake in the festivities. The delegation from Poland included, Elzbieta Jakubiak, the chair chief of staff of the President's Office in Warsaw, Kazimierz Kuberski, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Party, Mariusz Handzlik, the Director of Foreign Affairs from the President's Office in Warsaw, and Pawel Pietrasiewski the Acting Counsel General in Chicago. The theme of this years parade was the landing of the first Poles in Jamestown. In the parade, the PNA was represented in many ways, with a float, a special car from President Spula converted into a ship with the first settlers, many of the Polish Language Schools and the WICI performed. The parade was also televised on local television stations.

After the parade, the celebration moved to Navy Pier located further down Michigan Avenue right off Lake Michigan. The event was called "Poland on the Pier". The PNA sponsored the concert stage. This took place from the afternoon into the evening with many booths, concerts and Polish Ethnic cuisine being served.

Sunday Morning, the traditional Holy Mass took place at the Holy Trinity Mission Church on Noble Street in Chicago. The Mass has been held there for many years dating back when the PNA Home Office was just around the corner on Division Street. The solemn Mass took place at 10:30 a.m. with a procession of dignitaries and priests. Presiding over the Mass was Bishop Thomas Paprocki, the Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. Presenting the gifts were the Delegation from Poland with the leaders of the Polish Fraternals.  Before the end of the Mass, the Pastor of Holy Trinity presented the PNA and the other Polish Fraternal Organizations with a plaque thanking them for participating in helping Holy Trinity celebrate their 100th Anniversary.

After Mass, the congregation went to the Adler Planetarium to the wreath laying ceremony at the Kosciuszko Momument. Vice President Teresa Abick emceed the program. Ms. Jakubiak spoke at the ceremony.

To finish off the weekend of the May 3rd Observances, on Monday afternoon, a small intimate meeting with the PNA and the Polish Delegation was held in the Board Room at the PNA Home Office.

Story and Photos by:
Robert M. Jadach and Wojciech Wierzewski

To View Full Size Photos - Click on Thumbnail Below

	ABOVE PHOTOS FROM MAY 3RD MASS BELOW PHOTOS WREATH LAYING CEREMONY