Grand Rapids Pulaski Days Fast Approaching

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June 24th 2007

Published: June 24th 2007

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Kozal

The Basilica of Saint Adalbert

The Saint Adalbert's Fraternal Aid Society (Fifth Street Hall) was the site of this year's pageant.

Wow! Only one more week until we are off to Poland! Time has really flown and so has my opportunity to get things done. Having served as a juror last week, I was unable to accomplish anything; I will really have to buckle down this week. Nonetheless, the time to elect a new Pulaski Days' Queen and Court has arrived. The Pulaski Days' Queen and her Court will represent the Polish community of Grand Rapids at the state level. This year's pageant was held at Saint Adalbert's Fraternal Aid Society, also known as Fifth Street Hall. This hall is the oldest of the Polish aid societies in the city and is tightly tied to the Polish Roman Catholic Basilica of Saint Adalbert. I have been out of the loop for a few years, but this year's pageant proved to be a wonderful display of pride in our Polish heritage and service to the Grand Rapids community.

This year's pageant presented eight contestants who are of Polish heritage or active in the Polish community. Although beauty abounded, several of the contestants had a difficult time answering one of the questions posed to them in the public interview session. The question

2006-07 Queen, Court, and Princesses

Last Year's Pulaski Days' Queen and Court and this Year's Kosciuszko Day Princesses

that proved most challenging centered on a very controversial topic: illegal immigration. The question was worded something like this: As you know, in the early 1900s many immigrants came to this country from Poland in search of freedom and a better life. Today, the largest immigrant group is from Mexico. President Bush has debated with his congress and senate on the issue of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. at the Mexican border. What are your thoughts on this issue? At least two of the contestants were simply caught off guard by this question and fumbled terribly with their answers. Two others had a very neutral feeling on this issue, and the remaining four were very firm in their answers. Answers ranged from the importance of stopping the illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. at the Mexican border to prevent them from taking away American jobs, to allowing illegal immigrants to enter this country freely, as they too are trying to make a life for themselves and their children. Out of all the pageants I have attended, I felt that this question was the best question ever posed to the contestants. It truly made them think, and to do so "out

Contestant Number One

Miss B. Ziomkowski

loud" would not be easy.

After a day of private interviews and two hours of public interviews and "schmoozing", this year's contest provided the Polish community with two very deserving winners. This year's Pulaski Days' Queen is Miss Jennifer Pelak, and this year's Runner Up (Court) is Miss Jennifer Schmid. I hope and trust that they will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and represent our Polish community to the best of their abilities. Congratulations to both Jennifers! The Polish community looks forward to seeing you at this year's Dozynki Festiwal Polski (August 25, 26, and 27, 2007 at Calder Plaza) and the Pulaski Days Celebration (October 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2007 at the various Polish and Lithuanian Halls of Grand Rapids).

Gratulacje! Sto Lat! Viva la Polska!

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