Representatives of the Polish and Slavic Center participated at the Soldier’s Day (Święto Żołnierza) at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA. This annual celebration, organized by the Polish Army Veterans Association, commemorates all Polish soldiers who fought and died for Poland’s independence and freedom over the last two centuries.
This year’s celebration was devoted to dr. Teofil Starzynski, on the 70. anniversary of his death. Dr. Starzynski is the father of Polish falconry in America, a physician and soldier of the Blue Army. During the I World War, the American Polonia recruited and organized military training for thousands of volunteers willing to go to Europe to fight for Poland’s independence. Over 21,000 of these volunteers, who formed the so called “Blue Army”, ended up joining the Polish Army in France. According to scholars, “the Polish Army in France owes its power to a large extent to the falconry which gives it numerous strengths as well as management and organizational staff. Col. Teofil Starzyński, Ph.D., played an important role in this patriotic work”.
