October 4, 2009
Philadelphia, PA– Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) celebrated Polish American Heritage Month by marching in the 2009 Pulaski Day Parade. The Congressman raced back and forth across the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, shaking hands and greeting as many spectators as possible. The parade honors General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish American who aided General Washington at the Battle of Brandywine during the Revolutionary War and later became known as the “Father of the American Calvary.” 2009 marks the 230th anniversary of General Pulaski’s death. The parade, which included 16 divisions, was watched by thousands and broadcasted live on 6ABC.
“Since the first Polish immigrants arrived in Jamestown, VA, the Polish have been an important part in American’s culture and history,” said Congressman Sestak. “I am honored to join with the Polish American community of our region to celebrate their heritage. I want to thank Michael Blichasz, President of Polish American Congress, and Stephen Skorczynski, the 2009 Parade Grand Marshal, for this opportunity.”
The parade was sponsored by the Polish American Congress, Eastern Pennsylvania District, a regional branch of the national Polish American Congress (PAC) which was founded in 1944 in response to the concern of Americans of Polish descent for their ancestral homeland, Poland, following its brutal victimization during World War II. The PAC works to encourage unity, mutual respect, and cooperation within the Polish American community, advocates on the behalf of the to political and social issues which directly impact upon the Polish American community, and serves as a framework enabling Polish Americans to organize events that enhance a positive public awareness of the Polish heritage.
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, the Congressman was the first Director of Deep Blue, the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the Global War on Terrorism. He served as President Clintons Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
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