The main event was a 118th Parade organized in Downtown on May 2nd. Thousands of people arrived, including the Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, county and state and other political representatives, including the Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Congressman Mike Quigley, Secretary of State Jesse White, Senator Roland Burris .
Bishop Thomas J.Paprocki, Malgorzata Ptaszynska, Mark Dobrzycki, Richard M. Daley, Stanislaw Zagata.
The Grand Marshall of the Parade was Frank Spula, President of Polish American Congress and PNA.
The Queen of the Parade is 18-years old Natalia Kukułka.
Queen, Natalia Kukulka and Justyna Ryzewska.
Senator Roland Burris speaking to participants of the Parade.
The larges Polish Flag .
After the parade, the festivities continued at Navy Pier with live music, kids’ activities, dance and authentic Polish food. The music included De Mono, Mandaryna, Funky Polak and 2Day.
Polish American Police Association.
Joseph Conrad Yacht Club in Chicago.
Grand Marshall of the Parade Frank Spula; Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Andrzej Mikolajczyk.
The Festival was organized by “Polsko-Amerykański Instytut Kultury i Edukacji”-(PACEI), with cooperation of the Polish Consulate General in Chicago.
Navy Pier. Chris Kurczaba, founder of PACEI.
“Wielka Majowka” around the St. Hyacinth Basilica, was a 3-day event with many attractions including concerts of Lzy, Róże Europy, Papa D and Master.
Governor Pat Quinn, celebrated the Polish Constitution at the James Thompson Center on Friday, May 1st with dozens of representatives of Polish community, US National Guard members, as well as a delegation from Poland led by the Minister of Economy, Rafal Baniak.
Frank Spula, president of PAC and PNA speaking at the Governor reception .
Zofia Szczypta, Governor Pat Quinn and Teresa B. Buckner.
Governor Pat Quinn with Dyrectors of Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.
Mayor Richard M. Daley also organized a special event celebrating the May 3rd Constitution. On April 23 at the School of the Art Institute, he honored several prominent Polish community representatives.
Alina Mikołajczyk
Photo:Teresa B. Buckner & K. Teller
From Mayor’s Press Office
Mayor Richard M. Daley joins Ted Czajkowski, Parade Chairman, Alliance of Polish Clubs in the United States; Frank Spula, Grand Marshall and President, Polish American Congress and Ariel Reboyras, Alderman 30th Ward to celebrate the Polish Constitution Day Parade at Columbus Drive and Balbo on Saturday, May 2, 2009. The parade celebrates one of the city’s oldest and most festive events and honors one of our most valued communities. The first Polish Constitution Parade was held more than 100 years ago in Humboldt Park.
“Your fathers and mothers and your grandparents and great-grandparents helped to build the United States from the ground up by building our bridges, our roads and highways and other infrastructure that has made America the country that it is today, said Mayor Daley. “You’ve also contributed greatly to the prosperity of Chicago by maintaining healthy and productive neighborhoods and by making sure your children received a quality education.”
Photo By: Brooke Collins, City of Chicago