Polish Constitution Day activities announced

4/22/2015

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PARMA, Ohio -- The Ohio Division of the Polish American Congress, in conjunction with the City of Parma, will hold its 67th annual Polish Constitution Day Parade on Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m.

The parade will start at Parma Circle on Ridge Road and continue north to Snow Road. Following the parade, there will be an after-party behind Unity Catholic Credit Union on Ridge Road. Polish food will be provided by several vendors.

The honor of the grand marshal is bestowed posthumously this year on John Borkowski, past president of the Polish American Congress Ohio Division, who passed away shortly after the parade last year. Borkowski was former president of the Alliance of Poles in America, also former president of St. John Paul II Foundation and was a member and officer of many other organizations in Polonia. He was the leader of the John Borkowski Orchestra for 32 years.

Also, during the reception after the parade, Henryk Lapinski will be awarded the highest civilian award of the Polish government, the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity.

The weekend’s festivities will begin on Saturday, May 2 with the Miss Polonia and Jr. Miss Polonia contests, from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the St. Charles Social Hall, 5891 Ridge Road. Before the parade on Sunday, those interested can attend a wreath laying ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Pulaski Cannon next to Cleveland City Hall. Polish Mass will follow at 10:30 at St. Charles Church in Parma. Also Sunday morning, the St. Charles Youth Group is holding a pancake breakfast at the church’s social hall. The $10 admission will be used toward the group’s trip to World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland later this year.

Polish Constitution Day celebrates Poland’s May 3, 1791 adoption of the first constitution of its type in Europe which was a milestone in Poland’s – and the world’s – legal history, as well as in the history of democracy.

For more information about the activities and to make reservations for Miss Polonia contests, please call Allan Szuflada at 330-659-9465 or Mark Relovsky at 216-970-0507.

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