This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of WWII. It all began with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Living among us in Western New York are civilian and military survivors of the war who endured Nazi and Soviet labor and concentration camps as well as battles on many fronts. These eyewitnesses to the dramatic historical events of the 20th century have lived quietly in WNY for 60+ years without telling their story to the wider community.

The Polish Legacy Project was formed by a group of people whose aim is to capture the stories of these survivors while they are still among us. Our first major event will be a conference held October 3-4 in Buffalo. The title of the conference is: “Poland To Buffalo Through WWII: Untold Stories Come Alive.”

The conference will allow Polish survivors of WWII who have settled in the United States to share their stories of struggle and survival with the wider community. This unique gathering will be the first large-scale opportunity for the community at large to become acquainted with these untold stories of wartime survival and immigration to America in the English language.

On October 3, a panel of survivors will speak about their experiences, a keynote speaker from Montreal will give a presentation on “The Childrens’ Odyssey” to America, a background will be given on Poland in WWII and opportunities for one-on-one interviews with survivors will be available.

On October 4, the day will begin with a Remembrance Mass, followed by a Reunion of Families who settled in America after the war and a film entitled “Exiles” about a daughter’s quest to learn her mother’s wartime story. Opportunities to share photos, buy books and get assistance with research will be available.

A full program and registration form can be found here [pdf]. In order to obtain a discount on the registration fees, please register by September 15. Admission for WWII survivors is free.

The conference is being organized in collaboration with the Polish American Congress, WNY Division, The City of Buffalo through the office of City Council President David Franczyk and the Permanent Chair of Polish Culture at Canisius College. WNED-TV is the Media Sponsor for the event.