Assembly Resolution No. 571

BY: M. of A. Zebrowski

        MEMORIALIZING  The  Honorable  Andrew  M. Cuomo to
        proclaim October 2019, as  Polish-American  Heritage
        Month in the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay just tribute to the cultural heritage of  the  ethnic  groups  which
comprise  and  contribute to the richness and diversity of the community
of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and  in  keeping  with  its
time-honored  traditions,  it  is  the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October  2019,  as
Polish-American Heritage Month in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Polish-Americans  were  among  the first immigrants in the
country with roots tracing back  to  a  1608  immigration  to  Virginia;
today, there are approximately 10 million Polish-Americans living in the
United States; and

  WHEREAS,  New  York City is home to the largest Polish population in
the United States; Sloan, New York, is comprised of  nearly  50  percent
Polish residents; and

  WHEREAS,  Polish-Americans  have  made  significant contributions to
American society as war heroes,  doctors,  politicians,  musicians,  and
athletes; and

  WHEREAS,  Pulaski, New York, is named after General Casimir Pulaski,
a Polish-American war hero of the American Revolution who most  famously
led  an  impromptu  charge  in  the  Battle of Brandywine to protect the
retreat of George Washington and the Continental  Army;  in  October  of
1779, he gave the ultimate sacrifice and died in battle; and

  WHEREAS,  Polish-American and prominent political scientist Zbigniew
Brzezinski served as a counselor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, as well
as United States National Security Advisor to  President  Jimmy  Carter;
today,  he  serves as the Robert E. Osgood Professor of American Foreign
Policy at Johns Hopkins University's School  of  Advanced  International
Studies; and

  WHEREAS,  Edmund Muskie, a former Governor of Maine, a United States
Senator, and Secretary of State,  has  held  the  highest  office  among
Polish-Americans,  and  was the only Polish-American to be nominated for
Vice President by a major party; and

  WHEREAS,  Another  famed  Polish-American  Revolutionary  War  Hero,
Tadeusz  Kosciuszko,  also died in October; he was the chief engineer in
improving defenses at West Point, designing fortifications of  the  West
Point garrison at a time when George Washington claimed West Point to be
the most important military post in America; and

  WHEREAS,  Tadeusz  Kosciuszko,  a  champion  of equality, was also a
friend of Thomas Jefferson; although ultimately unfulfilled, he left his

estate to the abolition of slavery, and education of slaves in his will;
and

  WHEREAS, Polish-American Wladimir Krzyzanowski organized a volunteer
unit  of  Polish  and  German  Americans from New York in the Civil War,
officially titled the 58th New York Infantry Regiment, but more commonly
known as the Polish Legion; and

  WHEREAS, Polish-American immigrant from Germany, Dr. Marie Elizabeth
Zakrzewska, together with Dr. Elizabeth Bennett,  opened  the  New  York
Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857, the first hospital focusing on
pediatric and women's health; and

  WHEREAS,  Musician  and  Polish-American Ray Manzarek was a founding
member of the classic rock  band  The  Doors,  and  John  Rzeznik  is  a
founding  member  and  current  front  man  of the rock band the Goo Goo
Dolls; and

  WHEREAS, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Triple Crown Winner
Carl Yastrzemski,  and  Duke  University  Men's  Basketball  Coach  Mike
Krzyzewski  are  both of Polish decent; in addition, Coach Krzyzewski is
the winningest coach in NCAA Division I Men's  Basketball  history,  and
reached  1,000  wins in January of 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New
York City; and

  WHEREAS, Polish-American Heritage Month is a time to  celebrate  the
aspirations  and  values  that  have  been shared with Polish people for
generations, and to recognize the countless contributions  of  Americans
and  New  Yorkers  of  Polish  descent  to every aspect of society; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  The  Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as
Polish-American Heritage Month in the State  of  New  York;  and  be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.