THE SUMMIT TIMES

Vol. 10, Issue No. 29/2003

US House Resolution on Paderewski
108th CONGRESS, 1st Session

Recognizing the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski as a musician, composer, statesman, and philanthropist and recognizing the 11th Anniversary of the return of his remains to Poland.

February 5, 2003

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. BROWN of Ohio) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski as a musician, composer, statesman, and philanthropist and recognizing the 11th Anniversary of the return of his remains to Poland.

Whereas Ignacy Jan Paderewski, born in Poland in 1860, was a brilliant and popular pianist who performed hundreds of concerts in Europe and the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries;

Whereas Paderewski often donated the proceeds of his concerts to charitable causes;

Whereas, during World War I, Paderewski worked for the independence of Poland and served as the first Premier of Poland;

Whereas in December 1919, Paderewski resigned as Premier of Poland, and in 1921 he left politics to return to his music;

Whereas the German invasion of Poland in 1939 spurred Paderewski to return to political life;

Whereas Paderewski fought against the Nazi dictatorship in World War II by joining the exiled Polish Government to mobilize the Polish forces and to urge the United States to join the Allied Forces;

Whereas Paderewski died in exile in America on June 29, 1941, while war and occupation imperiled all of Europe;

Whereas by the direction of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Paderewski's remains were placed along side America's honored dead in Arlington National Cemetery, where President Roosevelt said, 'He may lie there until Poland is free.';

Whereas in 1963, United States President John F. Kennedy honored Paderewski by placing a plaque marking Paderewski's remains at the Mast of the Maine at Arlington National Cemetery;

Whereas in 1992, United States President George H.W. Bush, at the request of Lech Walesa, the first democratically elected President of Poland following World War II, ordered Paderewski's remains returned to his native Poland;

Whereas on June 26, 1992, the remains of Paderewski were removed from the Mast of the Maine at Arlington National Cemetery, and were returned to Poland on June 29, 1992;

Whereas on July 5, 1992, Paderewski's remains were interred in a crypt at the St. John Cathedral in Warsaw, Poland; and

Whereas Paderewski wished his heart to be forever enshrined in America, where his lifelong struggle for democracy and freedom had its roots and was cultivated, and now his heart remains at the Shrine of the Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski as a musician, composer, statesman, and philanthropist; and

(2) acknowledges the invaluable efforts of Ignacy Jan Paderewski in forging close Polish-American ties, on the 11th Anniversary of the return of Paderewski's remains to Poland.

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Vol. 10, Issue No. 29/2003