U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) joined U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Paulina Kapuscinska, Consul General of Poland in Chicago, and members of the Illinois delegation to celebrate the 224th anniversary of Polish Constitution Day.
There were many Illinois state leaders in attendance during these events as well, like Evelyn Sanguinetti, Ltn Governor of Illinois, Leslie Geisler Munger, State of Illinois Comptroller and many others.
Coach Michael Krzyzewski and Leslie Geisler Munger, State of Illinois Comptroller and Parade participant.
Foto: Teresa J. Potasiak
Vice-Marshal of the Parade, Dr. Jan Jaworski, Michael Krzyzewski the Grand Marshall of the 3rd May Parade and Jan Kopec, President of The Polish Constitution Day Committee. Photo: A. Mikolajczyk.
Sen. Kirk congratulated Coach Michael Krzyzewski to be the Grand Marshall of the 3rd May Parade and for his many accomplishments as the academic Coach of the Duke University Team and the Coach of the US National Basketball Team.
Consul General of Poland – Paulina Kapuscinska, Evelyn Sanguinette – Lt General of Illinois; Congressman – Dan Lipinski; James Pieczonka – Cook County Judge and U.S. Senator – Mark Kirk.
Coach “K” led US Team to two Olympic gold medals.
Coach “K” is a graduate of West Point Academy. Senator Kirk is a U.S. Veteran as well. It is another point of conversation during the Senator Kirk speech.
Coach Michael Krzyzewski with Judge Timothy Evans from Cook County. Photo: A. Mikolajczyk.
Senator Kirk re-affirmed his support for stronger military cooperation with Poland and for including Poland into Visa Waiver Program. Senator expressed it during the special Breakfast organized by the Chicago Society and during the conversation with an author of this article.
Senator Mark Kirk invited Andrew to talk about Polish Constitution Day and other issues related to the Community in Illinois. Sen. Kirk strongly supports strenghtening Medicare; also sponsors Bill to include Poland into VWP.
May 3rd signifies the day of the declaration of the Polish Constitution in 1791. This Constitution is generally regarded as Europe’s first codified constitution, and the world’s second modern codified constitution following the 1788 ratification of the United States Constitution.
Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Photo: A. Mikolajczyk.
Senator Kirk along with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) in March of 2013 introduced S. 223, a bipartisan bill that would modernize the existing Visa Waiver Program and provide a path for Poland’s inclusion¬¬ thereby eliminating the red tape for Polish citizens wishing to visit the United States.
Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) and others introduced identical legislation in the House, H.R. 490. For more information about efforts to include Poland in the Visa Waiver Program, click here.
Chicago is home to the largest concentration of Polish-Americans in the United States.
Andrew Mikolajczyk
Nurse, Lucyna with Dr. Fred Leya , Vice-Marshal of the Parade and Mary Leya , who is studying medicine at the Northwestern University. Photo: A. Mikolajczyk.
Parade participants: Michael, Alina, Lucyna, Amelka i Anita Photo: A. Mikolajczyk.
Daughter of Sylvia Kazmierczak in the Polish Highlanders costume. Photo: A. Mikolajczyk