2/20/2007 - Among the soldiers who fought bravely with the American Expeditionary Force in France during the First World War, there were tens of thousands of young men of Polish descent. One of these was Private Michael Kempinski, who fought in Company G of the 128th Infantry and won a Silver Star for capturing a German machine gun nest. Private Chester Lasky, from Hamtramck, Michigan, was with the 4th Machine Gun battalion and won a bronze star for “coolness under violent enemy artillery fire.”

Thousands of other Polish-Americans fought with the Polish Army in France, also known as Haller’s Army – an all-Polish army made up primarily of recruits from overseas. Mary Bartus-Sidlick, of Canton, Michigan, says that her father Lawrence Bartus was wounded and gassed in France while fighting with Haller’s Army. “He had to give up his job as a baker because of lung problems due to being gassed,” recalls Ms. Bartus-Sidlick. “Every Memorial Day my dad flew both the American and Polish flags on our front porch.”

These Polish-American heroes were among the hundreds of thousands of immigrant soldiers who put their lives on the line for the United States after their adopted country joined the Allies in 1917.

I am writing a book about these immigrant soldiers and their experiences, and I’m trying to get in contact with their descendants. I’ve already talked to families from all over the country, and I have interviewed two foreign-born men who fought in the war – an Italian-American who died last week at the age of 110 and a Russian Jewish-American who died late last year at the age of 106.

If you have a Polish-born ancestor who fought in the First World War, either with the US Armed forces or with the Polish Army in France, I would love to include his story in the book.

Please contact: David Laskin, 18757 Ridgefield Rd. NW, Seattle, WA 98177, 206-546-8856.

Thank you!

2/9/2007 - COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS IN POLONIA
FOUNDED IN 1930


Thaddeus Przybylo Polish Heritage Essay Contest
Sponsored by the Council of Educators in Polonia

The Thaddeus Przybylo Polish Heritage Essay Contest is open to elementary school students.

Students in Grades 6-8 are to write a two-page essay. The topic for 2007 is WHY IS CASIMIR PULASKI A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR TODAY’S YOUTH ? Students should show how attributes Casimir Pulaski displayed during his lifetime are relevant today. Students are to write a research-based essay on this topic. A bibliography must be attached.

All essays will be judged on originality, content and structure. Essays may be written in English or Polish. In the top right hand corner of the paper students should include their name, grade, home address and phone number and name of their school and school phone number. All essays must be typed, double-spaced, using 12 point font printed only on one side of each page of paper. The essay should be no longer than 2 pages.

The first place winner will be honored at the Pulaski recognition ceremony at the Polish Musuem on Pulaski Day. Prizes for first place, second place, third place and honorable mention will be presented at a ceremony in March.

The deadline for all essays is February 16, 2007.

Essays should be written following all of the above guidelines or they
will be disqualified.

Essays should be sent to:
Kenneth P. Gill Elzbieta Broler
7551 West Palatine or c/o Portage Park School
Chicago, IL 60631-1824 5330 W. Berteau
Chicago, IL 60641
GSR 30 (for CPS students)

For more information call 773-763-5587 or e-mail Ken29gill@aol.com