The Polish Constitution Day celebrations in Chicago on May 3, 2008, were totally outstanding, marred only by a lack of participation by Polish Americans. Although the Polish-speaking community was well informed about the events, the larger portion of the community hardly knew about the parade, the highlight of the weekend.

The festivities began Friday, the day prior to May, with a reception for Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, but although Pawlak speaks excellent English, it was a totally Polish language event, with the rest of Polonia neither advised nor invited. The next major party was an "Evening with the Stars," understandably directed at immigrants, who would know the personalities involved.

Simultaneously with the aforementioned celebrations, the Polish American Police Association of Illinois, presented its annual banquet. Even though that banquet was held at the same huge facility as the two previously mentioned events, it highlighted the divide between the predominantly Polish-speaking and the English-speaking parts of the community. A minority of the police organization’s membership speaks Polish, so that happening is conducted totally in English.

The following day, Saturday, began with a Pre-Parade Brunch, bi-lingual, although accomplished primarily in English. The undeniable fact is that almost all Polish immigrants are also conversant in Polish. Unlike the Hispanic community, Poles adapt to English very quickly.

The main feature of the weekend is, of course, the Polish Constitution Day held in Downtown Chicago, realistically touted as the largest event of its kind in the nation. This year’s edition featured 137 units and seems to go on forever. What did not extend to the horizon was the number of onlookers. Claims are made that as many as 250,000 attend the march, but the actual numbers fall far below that optimistic announcement. Although it must be admitted that the weather, chilly and rainy, did not cooperate, it is also true that most Polish Americans knew little or nothing about the parade.

The Alliance of Polish Clubs [Związek Klubów Polski], sponsor of the parade, does an outstanding job of organizing and presenting the spectacle, a huge undertaking. Unfortunately, being a totally Polish-speaking organization, it is not capable of properly announcing and advertizing it to the larger Polish American community. As a corollary, it is almost completely ignored by the American press.

A magnificent show, including folk dancers, performers from Poland and a 70-piece orchestra, thrilled those in attendance. There, though, as well, the large audience could have been huge, if it was swelled by the unaware community.

It is not my purpose to criticize anyone. Those who plan and present the mammoth parade deserve praise and thanks. Perhaps, though, it might be wise for them to include an organization from the other side of Polonia, bringing the American-born together with immigrants. The more time passes since massive immigration, the more reason there is for us to come together.