[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2875-S2876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MR. EDWARD J. PISZEK

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a 
constituent who has distinguished himself at home and abroad. This 
week, Edward J. Piszek will be honored in Philadelphia for receiving 
one of the Republic of Poland's highest civilian honors.
  On March 16, 1998, President Aleksander Kwasniewski bestowed the 
``Polonia Restituta,'' or the ``Commander's Cross with a White Star'' 
upon Mr. Piszek. This medal is presented for extraordinary service to 
the nation of Poland. Recipients of the Polonia Restituta are 
celebrated for their achievements in government and public activities, 
for contributions to promote Poland's independence, or for advancing 
Polish culture in the areas of education, literature and the arts.
  The son of Polish immigrants, Ed exemplified his parents' strong work 
ethic. It was a lesson well learned. In 1946, with $350 and the help of 
a close friend, Ed founded Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, Inc. Under his 
direction, the company became one of America's largest producers of 
prepared frozen seafood and vegetables.
  Ed began his philanthropic work in Poland during the 1960s. After 
witnessing the tremendous suffering caused by the high incidence of 
tuberculosis, he donated an ambulance to the hospital in Tarnow in 
memory of his parents. Later, he would provide 11 mobile x-ray units 
and 42 support vehicles to transport technicians.
  Mr. Piszek's commitment to the Polish people did not end with those 
initial acts of kindness. When the country suffered from food shortages 
in the early 1980s, he donated 10 million pounds of fishcakes. After 
the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ed participated in an airlift of 
powdered milk and food to those who were affected in Poland. Mr. Piszek 
has also worked to help the Polish people elevate their culture. He and 
author James A. Michener established a Young Polish Writer's workshop. 
Similarly, Ed supported the ``United States Peace Corps Partners in 
Teaching English'' which has already trained 25,000 new English 
teachers in Poland.
  On the home front, Ed has worked to elevate the image of Polish 
Americans. He purchased the home of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko--a 
Polish engineer who came to fight in the American Revolution and then 
later designed West Point--and donated the property to the National 
Park Service. In 1972, he founded the Copernicus Society of America. 
This private non-profit foundation strives to promote and encourage 
artistic, scientific, and historical activities throughout the world.
  In countless many ways, Ed Piszek has helped build a cultural bridge 
between the U.S. and Poland. For instance, he hosted a visit from Lech 
Walesa at the Copernicus Society's headquarters in Fort Washington, PA. 
He was instrumental in making arrangements for ABC News to go ``behind 
the walls'' of the Vatican and film John Paul II in his work day and 
private moments. The end result was The Pope and His Vatican, an ABC 
News Special which aired Easter Night, 1983. Another of Ed's noteworthy 
achievements was coordinating with the Copernicus Society and Penn 
State University to hold Agricultural Economic Development Summits in 
the Pzeszow Province of Poland. These one-week seminars allow 
agricultural experts from Poland and Penn State to share their 
knowledge and their expertise with neighboring countries. Finally, Mr. 
Piszek is working to promote the national pastime in Poland. A board 
member of the Little League Baseball Foundation in Williamsport, PA, Ed 
is deeply involved in developing the Little League Baseball European 
Training Center in Kutno, Poland. He hopes that baseball will teach 
children of all nations the concepts of teamwork, leadership, and 
character. All things considered, Edward Piszek was an obvious choice 
to accompany President Clinton to Warsaw in support of NATO membership 
for Poland.
  Mr. President, one man can truly make a difference. Mr. Piszek's work 
has touched thousands of lives. As he is

[[Page S2876]]

honored at the Kosciuszko House on April 2, I ask my colleagues to join 
me in extending the Senate's best wishes for continued success to 
Edward J. Piszek and his family. 

                          ____________________