[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 289--ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO 
    REFLECT ON AND REMEMBER THE INTEGRITY AND COURAGE OF THE 6,135 
   CHRISTIAN MEN AND WOMEN OF POLAND WHO ACTED TO SAVE THEIR JEWISH 
     COUNTRYMEN AND COUNTRYWOMEN FROM EXTERMINATION BY NAZI GERMANY

  Mr. SPECTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 289

       Whereas the year 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of the 
     start of World War II, a war that should be remembered for 
     introducing the world to the repulsive and unprecedented 
     barbarism and cruelty of Nazi Germany;
       Whereas Poland was the first country attacked and enslaved 
     by the government and armed forces of Nazi Germany as part of 
     the methodical extermination of European Jewry by Nazi 
     Germany;
       Whereas 6,135 Christian men and women of Poland acted with 
     great integrity and courage, risking their lives and the 
     lives of their families, to save their Jewish countrymen and 
     countrywomen from the barbarism and extermination of the 
     Nazis;
       Whereas the 6,135 Christian men and women of Poland who 
     acted to save their Jewish countrymen and countrywomen did so 
     in spite of the threat of their immediate execution and the 
     execution of their families, a threat that people in no other 
     country in Nazi-occupied Europe had to endure; and
       Whereas the 6,135 Christian men and women of Poland who 
     acted to save their Jewish countrymen and countrywomen 
     represent approximately 27 percent of the ``Righteous Among 
     the Nations'' honored by Yad Vashem in the Republic of 
     Israel: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate encourages the people of the 
     United States to reflect on and remember the integrity and 
     courage of the 6,135 Christian men and women of Poland who 
     acted to save their Jewish countrymen and countrywomen from 
     extermination by Nazi Germany.

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition today to submit 
a resolution encouraging the people of the U.S. to reflect on and 
remember the integrity and courage of the 6,135 Polish Christians who 
took action to save their Jewish countrymen and countrywomen from 
extermination by Nazi Germany. Earlier this year I cosponsored S. Res. 
9, a resolution commemorating 90 years of U.S.-Polish diplomatic 
relations, during which Poland has proven to us be an exceptionally 
strong partner to the U.S. in advancing freedom around the world. Today 
I want to recognize a time in history when such a freedom was 
challenged in Poland and around the world by a despotic regime, and 
more importantly pay tribute to those few who fought this tyranny and 
helped save innocent lives.
  This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II, a 
war remembered for the cruelty of Nazi Germany, as well as for the 
forces that eventually overcame this cruelty. Following World War II, 
Yad Vashem and a Remembrance Authority was established to embark on a 
worldwide project to identify those individuals who helped Jews during 
the Holocaust. All rescuers of European Jews during World War II are 
honored today as the ``Righteous Among the Nations'' by Yad Vashem in 
the State of Israel. Poland's 6,135 ``Righteous'' rescuers constitute 
some 27 percent of the 22,765 ``Righteous'' throughout the world. 
Furthermore, while unknown in number, it is important to remember those 
Polish Christians who were caught and summarily executed along with 
their families while attempting to carry out such rescues. While their 
stories may never be told, it is important to mention their heroic 
efforts.
  The 6,135 ``Righteous'' Polish Christians whose acts of courage and 
integrity have been documented by witnesses should be appropriately 
honored. These Polish Christians who were willing to risk their own 
lives and those of their families to save Polish Jews should not be 
forgotten. These 6,135 Polish Christians will always stand as universal 
exemplars and role models of human compassion who acted above and 
beyond the normal expectations of courage and integrity. Thus, I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution which reflects 
on and remembers the Polish Righteous Among the Nations.

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