[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 53 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF POLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 2010

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I stand here today to join my Polish 
American constituents, the Polish nation, and the world in mourning 
those who perished in this weekend's tragic plane crash.
  The crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski of Poland, First Lady 
Maria Kaczynski, and many ranking military and civilian officers was 
aptly described by one paper as ``literally, a nation colliding with 
its past.'' The 97 aboard the plane were traveling to commemorate the 
70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre in Western Russia. Shrouded in 
secrecy, the events that took place in Katyn had long been concealed or 
denied. These events included a massacre of 20,000 Polish prisoners of 
war, killed and discarded in unmarked graves by Soviet secret police in 
1940. But, many anticipated that the commemorative events scheduled to 
take place for the anniversary would be a positive step forward, a 
warming between countries.
  One of my constituents, Wojciech Seweryn, no doubt held a wish for 
such a reception, and was aboard the plane on his way to participate. A 
Polish artist and influential member of Chicago's Polish community, Mr. 
Seweryn's father died at Katyn and Seweryn himself spearheaded the 
construction of a memorial to the event at a cemetery in Niles, 
Illinois. Seweryn was on hand last year when the monument was 
dedicated, as he was at many important events in the Chicago area's 
strong Polish community. Poles in Chicago make up the largest 
ethnically Polish population of any city outside of Poland, second only 
to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The Polish American community will 
undoubtedly struggle to fill the void left by Mr. Seweryn and all those 
lost a few short days ago.
  This loss of Polish leadership included a President hailed as a 
distinguished leader dedicated to advancing the ideals of democracy and 
freedom. President Kaczynski supported democracy movements in Ukraine 
and Georgia. He tirelessly advocated for shedding light on painful 
moments in Poland's past. It is therefore incredibly sad that his life, 
and the lives of so many other distinguished leaders, were claimed in 
the dark forest outside Smolensk, Russia, this past weekend.
  Poland is a true friend and ally of the United States. Our two 
nations just recently celebrated 90 years of diplomatic relations. The 
contributions of Polish Americans to the United States are numerous. 
From the families who lost loved ones in the plane crash, to the nation 
of Poland, to Chicago's own shaken Polish American community, this loss 
will be felt around the world for years to come. We will stand with our 
friends as they find the resilience to emerge stronger, as they have 
before, following this unimaginable tragedy. As Adam Michnik, an 
intellectual imprisoned six times by the former puppet-Soviet Communist 
rulers, said: ``. . . in my sadness I am optimistic because Putin's 
strong and wise declaration has opened a new phase in Polish-Russian 
relations, and because we Poles are showing we can be responsible and 
stable.'' I look forward to Poland's recovery, and reemergence as a 
country that can, and will, overcome.

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