Darek Barcikowski Sashed
2019 Pulaski Day Parade Grand Marshal

• PostEagle
• February 9, 2019
• Uncategorized
• Featured
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Darek Barcikowski of Hartford, Connecticut was sashed as the Grand Marshal of the 2019 Pulaski Day Parade at a ceremony which took place at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in New York on Thursday, January 31.

Barcikowski, who serves as Connecticut’s first Honorary Consul for the Republic of Poland and is the managing partner and publisher at White Eagle Media – a Polish newspaper publishing company based in New Britain, is the first Grand Marshal in the parade’s 82-year history from the state of Connecticut.

Over 200 guests participated in the sashing ceremony which included artistic performances by Connecticut groups including the Slowianie Polish Song and Dance Ensemble form Stamford, the Polanie Dance Troupe from Bridgeport, the Gypsy Dream band from New Britain and a recital by renowned vocalist and pianist Sylwia Grzeszczak from Poland.

Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York Maciej Golubiewski thanked and congratulated the outgoing 2018 Grand Marshal Mr. Thomas Duch and welcomed the incoming Grand Marshal Darek Barcikowski. “We will be making history this year as Darek Barcikowski will be the first Honorary Consul of Poland to lead the parade which means that not only the Polish community but also Poland has a stake in this year’s parade”, said Consul Golubiewski.

President of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee Mr. Richard Zawisny called on the local Polish American community not the forget the most important reason for the parade which is honoring General Casimir Pulaski. “Pulaski came to American and fought and died for our values of freedom and human dignity that both the United States and Poland share”, said Zawisny.

“Standing before you as the 2019 Grand Marshal of the Pulaski Day Parade is a tremendous honor,” said Barcikowski. “But this honor is not mine alone. This honor belongs to all Polish Americans in Connecticut and to each and every single one of you,” he added. Barcikowski thanked the Pulaski Parade Committee in Stamford, Connecticut for his nomination and his parents Joanna and Tadeusz Barcikowski. “I will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Pulaski Memorial Parade for one year, but because of my parents, I will be a proud Pole for the rest of my life,” said Barcikowski who left Poland with his family at the age of 9.

The parade is held annually since 1937 is the largest manifestation of Polish American pride and culture on the East Coast and attracts over 100,000 spectators and participants each year. The 2019 Pulaski Parade will march up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Sunday, October 6.

The General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee, Inc.

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photo credits: Magdalena Kalkowska.