[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5123-S5124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 491--RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF IGNACY JAN 
PADEREWSKI AS A MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, STATESMAN, AND PHILANTHROPIST, AND 
    COMMEMORATING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH ON JUNE 29, 1941

  Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Murkowski, and 
Mr. Voinovich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 491

       Whereas Ignacy Jan Paderewski, born in Poland in 1860, was 
     a brilliant and popular

[[Page S5124]]

     pianist who performed hundreds of concerts in Europe and the 
     United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries;
       Whereas Paderewski donated the bulk of the proceeds of his 
     concerts to charitable causes, including the establishment of 
     the American Legion's Orphans and Veterans Fund;
       Whereas, during World War I, Paderewski worked for the 
     independence of Poland and served as the first Premier of 
     Poland;
       Whereas, in December 1919, Paderewski resigned as Premier 
     of Poland, and in 1921 he left politics to return to his 
     music;
       Whereas the German invasion of Poland in 1939 spurred 
     Paderewski to return to political life;
       Whereas Paderewski fought against the Nazi dictatorship in 
     World War II by joining the exiled Polish Government to 
     mobilize the Polish forces and to urge the United States to 
     join the Allied Forces;
       Whereas, on June 29, 1941, Paderewski died in exile in the 
     United States while all of Europe was imperiled by war and 
     occupation;
       Whereas, by the direction of President Franklin D. 
     Roosevelt, the remains of Paderewski were placed alongside 
     the honored dead of the United States in Arlington National 
     Cemetery, where President Roosevelt said, ``He may lie there 
     until Poland is free.'';
       Whereas, in 1963, President John F. Kennedy honored 
     Paderewski by placing a plaque marking his remains at the 
     Mast of the Maine at Arlington National Cemetery;
       Whereas, in 1992, President George H.W. Bush, at the 
     request of Lech Walesa, the first democratically elected 
     President of Poland since World War II, ordered the remains 
     of Paderewski to be returned to his native Poland;
       Whereas, on June 26, 1992, the remains of Paderewski were 
     removed from the Mast of the Maine at Arlington National 
     Cemetery and returned to Poland 3 days later;
       Whereas, on July 5, 1992, the remains of Paderewski were 
     interred in a crypt at the St. John Cathedral in Warsaw, 
     Poland; and
       Whereas Paderewski wished his heart to be forever enshrined 
     in the United States, where his lifelong struggle for 
     democracy and freedom had its roots and was cultivated, and 
     now his heart remains at the Shrine of the Czestochowa in 
     Doylestown, Pennsylvania: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski 
     as a musician, composer, statesman, and philanthropist;
       (2) on the 65th anniversary of his death, acknowledges the 
     invaluable efforts of Ignacy Jan Paderewski in forging close 
     ties between Poland and the United States; and
       (3) recognizes Poland as an ally and strong partner in the 
     war against global terrorism.

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, on behalf of my colleagues Senators 
Mikulski, Durbin, Murkowski, and Voinovich, I rise to submit a 
resolution recognizing the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski on 
the 65th anniversary of his death on June 29, 1941.
  Born in Poland in 1860, Paderewski is remembered for his 
contributions as a musician, philanthropist, statesman, and as one of 
the great men of his time. Paderewski was a brilliant and popular 
pianist who performed hundreds of concerts in Europe and the United 
States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, donating the 
proceeds to numerous charitable causes. During World War I, Paderewski 
played a central role in helping achieve Poland's independence, serving 
as the first Premier of Poland from 1919 until 1922, when he left 
politics and returned to music.
  The German invasion of Poland in 1939 spurred Paderewski to return to 
politics where he fought against Nazi Germany in World War II and 
joined the exiled Polish Government, where he helped mobilize Polish 
forces against the Nazis.
  Paderewski died in 1941. At the direction of President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt, Paderewski's remains were placed alongside America's honored 
dead in Arlington National Cemetery. He did not live to see the U.S. 
and Allied Forces free Europe from the tyranny of Nazi control. 
Paderewski's legacy inspired movements throughout Europe, including 
Solidarity in Poland.
  In 1992, Solidarity Leader Lech Walesa, the first democratically 
elected President of Poland since World War II, asked U.S. President 
George H.W. Bush to return Paderewski's remains to his native homeland. 
On July 5, 1992, Paderewski's remains were interred in a crypt at the 
St. John Cathedral in Warsaw, Poland.
  Mr. President, Ignacy Jan Paderewski's life and legacy is testimony 
to the enduring bonds between the United States and Poland. As we near 
the 65th anniversary of Paderewski's death on June 29, 1941, my 
colleagues and I are honored to submit this resolution honoring Ignacy 
Jan Paderewski and ask that it be appropriately referred.

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