From Dr. John Guzlowski remembering the anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe: D-Day Remembrance
Today, June 6, is the anniversary of the invasion of Europe, and by chance I was in a high school about to begin a presentation about my parents and their experiences in the Nazi concentration camps when an announcement came on asking the students in the school to remember the anniversary of D-Day.
As the speaker talked about what D-Day was, I thought about all that day meant to me, my parents’ long years as Polish forced laborers in Nazi Germany, the refugee camps after the war, the family killed and left behind, our coming to the US as DPs.
When the announcement ended, I began my presentation with a poem about my father’s liberation from the camps. Here’s the poem:
In the Spring the War Ended
For a long time the war was not in the camps.
My father worked in the fields and listened
to the wind moving the grain, or a guard
shouting a command far off, or a man dying…
By Raymond Rolak
DETROIT– Major League Baseball is really getting into theme nights. It is an added value marketing draw. In Detroit and Chicago, Pepsi has been at the forefront of a marketing partnership with baseball and the Polish-American community.
In Detroit recently, ‘Paws’, was a highlight as he entertained the announced crowd of 34,046 on a misty evening at the ballpark. The animated mascot of the Detroit Tiger’s was dressed in colorful Polish folk-wear. It was just one of the highlights as young and old approached to touch and talk with the popular cheerleader. The color, music and dancing were all part of the pre-game festivities for the 41st annual Polish American Night at Comerica Park.
For those in attendance, besides the anticipated baseball action, and the spectacular color display from the dancing troupes, there was the added value of post game fireworks sponsored by Pepsi. Pre-game music was provided by: The Natural Tones, The Kielbasa Kings and Big Daddy Lackowski & The La De Das.
A special promotion was sponsored by the PRCUA and the Michigan Division of the Polish American Congress. Those that purchased a special ticket package received tee-shirts with “Who’s your Tiger” in Polish on the back, (Twoj Ulubiony, TIGER?).
Before the game, Detroit Tiger’s manager, Jim Leyand, graciously took time to acknowledge those on the field supporting the pre- game festivities. Leyland spoke with former baseball sensation Pinky Deras before the game. Deras is one of the 2011 inductees into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame and was acknowledged on the field. The game was telecast to Boston and regionally thru Fox Sports-Detroit.
Before Rob Szczublewski of Toledo, Ohio did great service to the Polish and American national anthems the dancing troupes were center stage throughout the field of play. At the appointed time pre-game emcee Rob Wolchek decreed, “Play ball.”
The evening started with great expectations and high hopes by having ace pitcher Rick Porcello on the mound for the Tiger’s. The Boston Red Sox had a five run third inning that sent the Tiger starter to the showers and dimmed some of the evenings merriment. Leyland said after the game, “He was just out of sync.” Tiger rookie Charlie Furbush was a highlight with five innings of shutout relief. With the home team losing 6-3, the post game Polka concert left most departing the stadium in good spirits.
Veteran talk-radio host Ron Cameron along with good friend George Eichorn saluted Ed Browalski. Browalski was one of the driving forces of Polish-American Night and he headlined the formation of the NPASHF.
“Big Ed”, as he was affectionately known, was a respected baseball and bowling writer. He was also the longtime official scorekeeper for the Detroit Tigers. Veteran pro-wresting ambassador Kurt Schneider told humorous Browalski tales about how the players would lobby to get an error erased from the stats.
In keeping with the theme, the press box kitchen at Comerica Park featured a Polish style dinner and snacks. Polish ‘Angel-Wing’ cookies (Chrusciki) were even featured. “These are awesome,” exclaimed radio stringer Rich Curbelo, as he enjoyed the tasty confections.
Deras, who was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Hamtramck High School for a big bonus, told Jim Conrad, “At my first day of spring training in St. Petersburg, Stan Musial came up to me and said, ‘Come on Polish boy, how about some catch.’”
“That shook off the butterflies,” added Deras. “What a class act to help out a rookie like that.” Musial was the first NPASHF inductee in 1973.
At one of the busy Comerica Park concession stands Fr. Walter Ptak of Wyandotte invited those within earshot to their August Polish Festival. Polish national and first time baseball attendee Jan Borowski acknowledged with a smiling and heartfelt, “Tak, tak, bardzo dobrze.”
Boston Red Sox pitching ace Jon Lester met with 17 year old Tim Myszenski of Warren, Michigan. Myszenski, a big baseball enthusiast is suffering the effects of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation program.
This year’s NPASHF induction banquet is June 23, at 6:00 pm at the American-Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan. For ticket information, 313-407-3300.
In Chicago, Polish-American Night with the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field will be Tuesday, July 26, 2011. The Sox will take on the Tigers and tickets can be purchased from the PRCUA, 1-800-772-8632, ext. 2601.
Editors Note: Raymond Rolak was a past Chairman of the NPASHF.
Stefan Glass was one of the artist’s closest friends. Glass was a mathematician, philosopher, poet, translator, author of a chapter on ether in a Witkiewicz pamphlet on drugs (signed as Dezydery Dr. Prokopowicz). Glass was a frequent participant in the Zakopane clique surrounding Witkacy, who continued his earlier controlled experiments with various drugs (morphine, cocaine, peyote, and others). Witkacy painted and wrote under their influence. He also recorded, in small notes on his paintings, the drug that was influencing him at the time, even if it was only a cup of coffee.
More on Witkacy from Wikipedia.
…for the annual YMSofR Bowling Tournament. It will be good to bowl with the bowling bishop (now my bishop), and many good friends. All events are near to St. Mary’s PNCC in Parma where we will conclude with Holy Mass at 10am on Sunday, May 22nd.
Some background on Polonia in Cleveland and other happenings:
WKYC did a series of On Location stories from Cleveland’s Polonian and Czech – Slavic Village:
- On Location: Slavic Village
- On Location: Sound system first in Slavic Village
- On Location: Polish Museum in Slavic Village
- On Location: Third Federal in Slavic Village
- On Location: St. Stanislaus [R.C. Church]
Dyngus Day in Cleveland – for years a celebration only equaled by St. Patrick’s Day in places like Buffalo and Sanduski, has found a new following in Cleveland. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer: Dyngus Day celebration exceeds expectations in spite of torrential rain
A new Cleveland tradition has been born.
The weather couldn’t have been worse, and the crowds couldn’t have had more fun. Organizers said more than a thousand revelers braved torrential rain Monday to turn out for the first annual Dyngus Day celebration, which was held among three bars in the Gordon Square Arts District on the city’s West Side.
The Parkview Nite Club, the Happy Dog Saloon and the Reddstone pub now officially constitute “The Polish Triangle.”
Dyngus Day is a Polish rite of spring held the day after Easter that involves boys and girls, water and pussy willow branches. Tradition calls for boys to throw water on girls; the girls whip the boys with the branches…
Celebrating Polish Constitution Day in Cleveland. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer: Celebrate Cleveland’s Polish culture on Polish Constitution Day
The May 3 holiday marks the anniversary of Europe’s first modern constitution, signed in Poland in 1791. It’s a big deal in Poland, and in American cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland that have large Polish populations. Didn’t know that? Don’t know much about Polish culture beyond Big Chuck, pierogi and bad Parma jokes? Fortunately, this weekend — and all year round — there are several great ways to explore our city’s rich Polish culture…
The Cleveland Plain Dealer covering Roman Catholic church closings in Cleveland as well as breakaway Parishes. I have covered some of this in previous articles.
- Parishioners of Catholic churches targeted for closings left wondering, ‘Why us?’
- Ethnic parishioners protest closings of Cleveland-area Catholic churches
- Tourists admire St. Casimir Catholic Church before it closes its doors
- Parishioners, priest from closed St. Peter Catholic Church defy bishop, celebrate Mass in new home
- St. Peter’s in Cleveland and St. Stanislaus in St. Louis walk a similar path
- Breakaway Catholic flock flourishing in New York