[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18004]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ``A TASTE OF POLONIA''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illilnois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise on behalf of more than 
111,000 of my constituents who are of Polish descent in the Fifth 
Congressional District of Illinois on Chicago's northwest side. It is 
my privilege to recognize the 25th anniversary of one of the most 
celebrated cultural events and the pride of the Polish-American 
community in Chicago--A Taste of Polonia.
  This year's anniversary event was held over Labor Day Weekend and 
featured hundreds of Polish handicrafts and artistic exhibitions, 
musical performances and other cultural displays. An abundant variety 
of Polish cuisine, including some of my personal favorites--kielbasa 
and pierogi--were enjoyed by tens of thousands of Chicagoans, including 
many who don't have Polish-American background but nonetheless wanted 
to join in the celebration and appreciate such an extraordinary 
assortment of food, music and art unique to ``A Taste of Polonia''.
  Mr. Speaker, I also salute the Copernicus Foundation, a leading 
advocate for Polish-Americans in Chicago and throughout the country. 
The Foundation is a shining example of dedication to promoting our 
city's ethnic pride. It has hosted a variety of cultural, educational 
and civic programs, town meetings, political debates, live theater 
performances, concerts and films. It has been home to the Polish Film 
Festival in America since 1987. The Foundation has proven time and 
again its commitment to showcasing the many cultural and civic 
achievements of Polish-Americans and ensuring that they continue to 
flourish as demonstrated by its sponsorship of ``A Taste of Polonia''.
  Today, it is especially important to reaffirm our appreciation and 
respect for Polish culture, particularly as the United States and 
Poland broaden a mutual partnership in the global economy and in 
fighting the global war against terror. Our special relationship with 
Poland exemplifies our mutual commitment to democratic ideals of 
liberty and human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, ``A Taste of Polonia'' is a source of great pride for 
Polish-American citizens living in Chicago and indeed across the State 
of Illinois. I invite my colleagues to attend this celebration in the 
future and again congratulate all those who contributed toward another 
successful and joyous celebration of our city's Polish heritage.

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