“Unlike the bicoastal zones, the Midwest culture isn’t like, ‘we have to be cutting edge,’ we can stick with heritage.” — Rick March, Author, “Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka.”

P stands for paczki, pierogi, polka, proud, and Polish! Heritage is important to the “Polonia,” people of Polish ancestry living outside of Poland, a majority of immigrants have settled in the Midwest and the Northeast. With a strong work ethic and a deep faith, the industrial cities surrounding the Great Lakes attracted most; others chose rural areas and farming, forming neighborhoods and communities noted for Polish customs and traditions.

The “Truth” in the words, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” in the Declaration of Independence is evident to the people of Poland. Understanding their experience deepens our own appreciation of their meaning. The powerful — Catherine the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, and Josef Stalin — have recognized and attempted to master Poland as the key to controlling all of Europe. Poland has been a battleground and a bargaining chip. Having lost and gained independence throughout history, its people have experienced the horrors of war, the pain of occupation.

“There is a time when you have to sacrifice everything to have everything saved.” — Thaddeus Kosciusko, Engineer and Military Officer.

General Kosciusko has been decorated with Poland’s Order of the White Eagle and the Virturi Militari. His strategy brought victory in the Battle of Saratoga, and he also designed fortifications at West Point that defend the Hudson River. His home is a national monument in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.” — Casimir Pulaski, General.

One of eight people to be honored as an Honorary American Citizen, General Pulaski is also known as the “father of the U.S. Army’s Cavalry.” Through an escape orchestrated by Pulaski, George Washington was able to avoid being killed or captured in the Battle of Brandywine. The State of Illinois recognizes the first Monday in March as Casimir Pulaski Day.

“They fought for their family. They fought for their freedom. They fought for those that came before them. Most of all, they fought for Poland. their beloved homeland.” — Portage County Historical Society.

November 11, 1918, was Independence Day in Poland, ending 123 years of being partitioned between Germany, Russia, and the crumbling Austro-Hungarian Empire. Participating in the liberation was the “Blue Army,” so-called for the color of their uniforms. The army was formed from 20,000 Polish American volunteers. Steven’s Point, in Portage County, Wisconsin was a recruiting location.

Every Sunday, radio station WATZ features “Sunday in Poland” hosted by Elaine Misiak. This Sunday, the 4th of July, the nation will observe the 245th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and a special tribute of patriotic polka music is planned. Tune in to “Today’s Country” at 9 a.m. on 99.3 FM to get Pumped and Patriotic!

“In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth can be like a pistol shot.” — Czeslaw Milosz, Polish American poet.