“Today, Poland is a free, sovereign, and independent country. It remains so thanks in part to the support of the USA, which was secured also thanks to Poles living here,” said President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda in Chicago, where he took part in Casimir Pulaski Day celebrations.
Andrzej Duda and the First Lady attended the festivities at the Polish Museum of America in Chicago. The president reminded attendees of Casimir (Kazimierz) Pulaski’s importance, pointing to the key moments of his life. He added that Pulaski Day holds a personal and special significance for him. “It shows the involvement of Poles in the United States from its very beginnings,” he noted.
“Today, Poland is a free, sovereign, independent country. It is so also thanks to the support of the USA, made possible by Poles living here—because in the United States, there is a memory that the great generals who fought for its freedom, Pulaski and Kościuszko, were Poles,” President Duda stated.
He emphasized that because the museum is visited by Americans, including those who hold power in the United States, they can see the contribution Poles have made to the nation’s history and how much Poles have given to building the potential of the United States.
The president also recalled the influence Poles wield in American politics by casting their votes in elections, thereby “participating in politics on democratic principles.”
“The Polish community matters, and thanks to that, it can support its homeland,” the president affirmed. Duda expressed his gratitude for the beautiful testimony of Polish heritage and thanked state and city authorities for their support of Poles.
“I constantly invite you to visit Poland, but above all: God bless the Republic of Poland. God bless America,” he concluded, after which the crowd erupted in a standing ovation.