Polonia Worldwide
Written by Martin S. Nowak Tuesday, 21 August 2012 09:47
Born in Minsk, Lithuanian Poland in 1811, Aleksander Bielaski was trained to be a topographical engineer. When the uprising of 1831 against the Russians began, young Bielaski took part with the Polish forces in the defense of Warsaw. After the rebellion, he was exiled to France. From there, he made his way to the U.S. with thousands of other dispossessed Poles.
Once here, Bielaski was employed by railroads as a civil engineer and surveyor. He opened a land office in Springfield, Illinois in 1837 and became a friend of young Abraham Lincoln. He married, spent some time working in Mexico, got a job with the U.S. General Land Office and eventually moved to Washington, D.C. where he was employed as a draftsman.
When the Civil War broke out, Bielaski's old friend and now President Abe Lincoln personally recruited him at his home to accept an officer's commission as aide-de-camp to General John McClernand. Tragically, Captain Bielaski died in the Battle of Belmont, Mo. on November 7, 1861. He left behind his wife and seven children. One of them, Oscar Bielaski, had managed to join the Union army as a drummer boy where he supposedly learned to play the game of base ball from other soldiers.
Written by Robert Strybel Wednesday, 25 May 2011 22:52
Have you ever wondered what your Polish last name means? Many started out as nicknames to indicate who one's father was. Andrzejczak, Tomczyk and Janowicz are the Polish equivalents of Anderson, Thomson and Johnson. Other surnames described the inhabitant of a native village: Wiśniewski came from Wiśniew (Cherrywood) and Wróblewski hailed from Wróblewo (Sparrowville).
Written by Geraldine Kelley Friday, 20 May 2011 23:16
Written by Richard P.Poremski Tuesday, 14 December 2010 19:06
WASHINGTON, D.C. Polish Armed Forces Day was celebrated here on September 30, 2010 at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. The numerous military, diplomatic, governmental, civilian and Polonia guests were hosted by Ambassador Robert Kupiecki and Brigadier General Leszek Soczewica.
Ambassador Kupiecki welcomed everyone and said that Poland reserves this special day to honor its generations of armed forces who fought for - and defend - Poland. Today, a free Poland is an active member of NATO and the European Union. The U.S. supports Poland as a military partner with advanced training and modern equipment; and Poland currently cooperates with U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Poland's Minister of Defense, Bogdan Klich, was the guest of honor. His recent meeting here with Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense was described as "concise and useful. " It focused on stationing U.S. Patriot missiles, transport aircraft, F-16 fighter planes, and possibly its special forces, in Poland. Klich addressed Poland's NATO military commitments in Afghanistan, and Poland's planned withdraw from there in 2014 at the latest.
The highlight of the evening was the introduction of Colin Powell and his wife Alma. He was a U.S. General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-1993), which topped his long and fruitful military career. Powell later entered the political arena and eventually served as U.S. Secretary of State from 2001-2005.
Written by Jagoda Urban-Klaehn Tuesday, 18 May 2010 12:28
"The Black Madonna of Derby" is very readable and enjoyable novel about complexities of the life of a Polish origin family settled in Derby, England.
It encompasses three generations starting with babcia (grandmother) who does not even speak English and finishing on the grandchildren. The book encompasses different time periods since it starts before World War II and it finished in late 70s. It shows also glimpses of life in Poland through the dangerous time of war and the street "lapanka" (catching people on the streets and sending them to labor camps in Germany). Eventually we see the post-war communistic Warsaw with its grey buildings and grey streets, but also the full of life cafeterias of Krakow and the spirit of Polish people which is seemingly unbroken in spite of the suffering they have to endure.The story is so interesting that I felt as like I become a part of the Baran family.
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