Polish American Congress to Laud Congressman Peter T. King at October Banquet

Rep. King’s suburban New York Congressional district numbers many Polish American voters who appreciated his publicly expressed concerns at the time Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski and 95 Polish government officials and dignataries were killed in the April 10, 2010 air crash in Smolensk, Russia.

The tragedy took place as the Polish plane was landing at Smolensk’s military airport during adverse weather conditions. The Polish delegation flew there to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.

When questions and suspicions about the possibility of Russian sabotage of the plane’s landing arose, Congressman King issued an unsolicited call for an impartial internnational investigation of the incident rather than leaving the investigation primarily in the hands of the Russians. Poland has yet to follow through on his proposal.

It’s not very often that a Congressman is knowledgeable and involved enough in matters regarding Eastern Europe to speak out so directly as Mr. King did, many Polish Americans feel.

Congressman King is currently a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. He had been chairman of this committee for seven years before recently stepping down.

“King’s relevant experience and his astute approach to the international problems facing America today qualify him to be a particularly powerful presidential candidate in 2016,” said Chet Szarejko, chairman of the Political Activities Committee of the Polish American Congress.

Mr. Szarejko’s committee is currently devoting an intensive effort to drum up Congressional support for H.R. 1354 to finally approve Poland’s entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

Another political official the Polish American Congress will honor at its October 26th Banquet is Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz who is vacating his position because of term limits restrictions. Mr. Markowitz has worked closely with the PAC’s Downstate N.Y. Division in the years he held office. Brooklynites remember his contribution in making the observance of the 50th anniversary of the Pulaski Bridge a truly memorable event.

President Markowitz warmly welcomed Lech Kaczynski when the Polish president visited Greenpoint a few year’s ago.

The Polish American Congress October 26th banquet will start at 7:00 p.m. in the Polish & Slavic Center auditorium, 177 Kent St., in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, (the former St. Alphonsus Parish Church).

Frank Milewski