Polish Arts Club of Buffalo

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The Polonian - the Bulletin of the Polish Arts Club Volume 51, Number 1, August 1999

Articles

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE POLISH VETERANS PILGRIMAGE
The Genesis of a Tradition


The following is the text of a speech made on Sunday, June 13, 1999, by the President of the Polish American Congress of Western New York State, Joe Macielag, at the Cenotaph in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, on the occasion of the annual Polish Veterans Pilgrimage to that locality. The speech was given in the presence of His Excellency, Bogdan Grzelonski, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Canada, His Worship, the Lord-Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Art Viola, many distinguished delegates, and guests from both Canada and the United States and the general public of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Each year on this Sunday in June as in decades past, we assemble here at Niagara-on-the-Lake to pay homage to the all-volunteer Polish Blue Army also known as Haller's Army. We honor the uniqueness of the relationship and cooperation of four freedom loving countries, France, Poland, Canada, and the United States. Eighty-two years ago, it was the unique friendship, understanding and cooperation of these latter two great North American nations that permitted former Poland's native sons to bring freedom to their heritage homeland which was non-existent for 125 years.

Poland's sovereignty

You see my friends, for the last 204 years, Poland has been a free and sovereign nation for only a total of 30 years. Since 1795, only from 1918 to 1939, and then from 1989 to the present time, has Poland been a free and sovereign country.

It wasn't until November 11, 1918, under the rallying cry "For your freedom and ours," that Poles regained the promise of their May 3, 1791 constitution. This was the first written constitution in Europe that guaranteed total freedom to its citizens. It was this Polish Constitution that outraged its neighbors, Prussia, Austria, and Russia so much so, that over the next 4 years they succeeded in partitioning and, thus by 1795, obliterating Poland from the European continent - no longer was there a Poland on any map. They (Prussia, Russia, and Austria) in no way wanted these freedoms spread into their own dynasties and kingdoms. The rulers of these 3 countries looked upon "freedom" as a disease. But the Polish spirit never died. That May 3rd constitution was the fuel that sparked the ongoing struggle for freedom for over a century. During that time, insurrections took place but were soundly defeated.

World War I

Then came the war to end all wars. In 1914, World War I was ignited. This was an opportune time for Poland’s rebirth, an idea that was initiated by a very popular Polish statesman named Józef Pilsudski. Poles formed committees in France and the US to recruit Polish Nationals to form a Polish military force to fight alongside the western allies - France and England - with the intent to consolidate with forces being formed on Polish soil. That war ended in 1918, but in Poland it did not end until 1920 because of the Bolshevik attempt to overrun Poland's newly established borders. After many battles, the Russian invaders were defeated at the gates of Warsaw on August 15, 1920. This day is know as the "The Miracle at the Vistula River," named by British Gen. Lord D'bernon as the world's 13th most decisive battle.

Getting back to why we are here: In the US, the Polish Falcons Gymnastic Society was the focus of this above mentioned recruitment. At the urging of world famous pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski, US President Woodrow Wilson signed a decree on October 5, 1917 permitting Poles to form their own army; however, because of US regulations, they could not train on US soil and for that reason, the Dominion of Canada graciously opened its borders for that purpose.

Tadeusz Kosciuszko Camp

In 1917, this picturesque Niagara on the Lake community was the main assembly center for the volunteers and for the nucleus of Gen. Józef Haller's Blue Army. The term "Blue Army” came about because of the distinctive color of the French uniforms which were used by this newly formed Polish army. The cost of this army, its training, transport, etc. was subsidized by the French government. The Canadian training center was named the Tadeusz Kosciuszko Camp - after a US American Revolutionary War General who happened to be a young Polish engineer-soldier whose unique strategies allowed the American colonists to gain their independence.

The passing of 26 volunteers

Some 23,000 volunteers came here, mostly passing through Buffalo where a Polish American Citizens Committee was formed to assist in any way they could. During the training, an influenza epidemic broke out and caused the death of 26 recruits. The pastor of St. Vincent de Paul R.C. Church at that time, allocated a parcel of land in that parish's cemetery for their burial. Their lives were snuffed out before their dream could be fulfilled and their ability to fight for their fatherland. As a result a yearly pilgrimage, as I mentioned earlier, is conducted in their memory. Polish Canadians and Polonia the world over maintain and respect this tiny cemetery plot as sovereign Polish soil.. It is from there, St. Vincent de Paul R.C. Church (just a few blocks down the street) that we have come this afternoon in keeping with the tradition of forever remembering the heroic efforts of the Blue Army volunteers who trained here and sacrificed their lives during the war; and as mentioned, remembering those 26 men whose destination was heaven rather than Europe. As an interesting aside, because of the unexpected large numbers of volunteers, on Jan 17, 1918, the US War Dept. relented and granted specific permission for the use of Ft. Niagara on the American side of the river as an assembly point in the US for these recruits to the Polish Army. That site continued to be used as a staging area for trained soldiers en route to France until Feb. 18. 1918.

Polish Day at Niagara-on-the-Lake

We are so grateful to this community, Niagara on the Lake, for their everlasting hospitality and cooperation in hosting this annual event for several decades now, which they proclaim as "Polish Day." We are grateful to God almighty for our neighbor Canada, for their trust, their commitment and dedication in fostering peace and understanding; we are grateful to the Canadian-Polish Congress, Niagara District, for having assumed the role as host organization for this event; we are grateful for our blood brothers and sisters, Polish Canadians who make us realize that it is the one and the same Polish blood that flows through our veins. In Polish let me say, Granica ta nic nie znaczy, krew w naszych zylach jednaka, u Polki czy tez Polaka.

"For your freedom and ours"

Finally, we proudly stand here today to honor and give due respect to the Canadian men and women who sacrificed their lives to ensure that we as citizens and residents of North America can assemble freely and enjoy the God-given right of freedom, to honor and respect each other, to share our talents for and with one another, to exemplify to the world that a border, which must always be respected, can be a symbol of understanding, friendship, and cooperative ventures for the enhancement of its peoples.

The flags of Canada and Poland wave the same colors of red and white, a symbol of their unity; however, so too, do the flags of France and the United States contain the colors of red and white - but their additional blue is symbolic in that they were responsible for giving us the Blue Army and a chance for Polish blood to be spilled "For your freedom and ours."

To all of you standing here today, thank you for your attention, and on behalf of all the personnel responsible for today's memorial event we extend this one wish: May you and your loved ones know peace all the days of your life. Szczesc Boze!



Last Revised: September 8, 1999