Pulaski Parade 2014 Grand Marshal, Hon. Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik, from Passaic County, NJ

02 lutego, 2014

Sashing took place on 30 January at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland

Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka stressed the importance of the Pulaski Parade, as it is the largest Polonia parade in the United States. Furthermore, Consul General highlighted the fact that this year, Poland will celebrate important anniversaries: 25th anniversary of the 1989 elections (which marked the end of communism); 15th anniversary of Poland\'s membership in NATO; 10th anniversary of Poland\'s accession to the European Union. "We should all work towards including these anniversaries in the planning of the 77th Pulaski Parade on 5 October 2014." - said Consul General.

Richard Zawisny, president of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee, thanked Consul General for all the help and support that the Committe had received in order to prepare this year\'s sashing. At the same time, Richard Zawisny highlighted that the Pulaski Day and Polish Heritage Month should serve as a reminder of the close bond, the "brotherhood-in-arms", shared by America and Poland. "It has been so ever since Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko served our fledgling nation, and it shall be so for many years to come." - stressed Richard Zawisny.

Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik is a law enforcement professional with a distinctive twenty-eight year career in the Clifton, New Jersey, Police Department. His father came from Polesie region, was a soldier, and participated in the Battle of Monte Cassino. His mother, present at the ceremony, was born in Lwów. "I don\'t think my parents ever dreamt that their son would be the Grand Marshal of the Pulaski Day Parade." - said Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik.

Following the speech of the new Grand Marshal, Eric Piwowarczyk, a student from the Polish Supplementary School in Clifton, NJ, sang "Polskie Kwiaty" ("Polish Flowers"), accompanied by Alexis Link from Polish Supplementary School in Passaic, NJ. Furthermore, a Polish highlander group (Gorale Kolo Jana Sabaly, Clifton, NJ) gave a dance performance.