Polish Apostolate Committee


	CONTACT EVENTS Conferral of Pride of Polonia Award 40th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Rome Coronation of the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa Pride of Polonia Award Cecelia Glembocki Papal Award Fall Pilgrimage to Saint Pope John Paul II National Shrine English Polish Open Letter of Polish American Bishops to Polonia English Polish Celebrating 1,050 Years of Christianity in Poland Taddeus Radzilowski, "Outstand Pole" Memorial for Rev. Msgr. Peter Zendzian National Saint John Paul II Day St. John Paul II Day in Washington D.C. St. John Paul II Day in Washington D.C. (Polish) PALA Polish American Leadership Association Press Release (English) Polish American Leadership Association Press Release (Polish) PALA Photos Future Leaders of Polonia Two Plays Written About Maximilian Kolbe 2009 - The Year of the Priest Polish American Clergy Reflect Pope John Paul II Ideals Msgr. John A. Abucewicz Rev. Louis S. Garbacik Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Marjanczyk Meeting of the Polish Conference of Bishops Pope John Paul II Polish Heritage Day Pope John Paul II Polish Heritage Day Photos Dedication of the Blessed John Paul II Dedication of the Blessed John Paul II Mosic Photos Sto Lat Walter Zachariasiewicz Nestor of Polonia Ties the Knot MEMBERS MEMORIALS Dr. Thaddeus Radzilowski Chester Lobrow Rev. Louis Garbacik Rev. Msgr. Joseph Marjanczak Walter Zachariasiewicz Rev. Msgr. Peter Zendzian HOME

“A Sto Lat Reality for Walter Zachariasiewicz” Text & Photo by Richard P. Poremski This article appeared in the January 2012 edition of the Polish American Journal • www.polamjournal.com 100th Birthday Party Held at Polish Embassy. Walter Zachariasiewicz is shown above addressing his well-wishers after extinguishing the numerals 1-0-0 on his birthday cake, and being serenaded with a robust singing of “Sto lat.” At center is Ambassador Robert Kupiecki, his wife Malgorzata and daughter Magdalena. WASHINGTON, D.C. —It’s a very old Polish tradition to sing “Sto Lat” – “May You Live 100 Years” to someone at birthday parties, on name days, and at other special occasions. But due to the short life spans in the old days, almost no one ever achieved the unattainable century mark. Even today with all the vast modern medical and scientific improvements it’s still something of a rarity for a person to achieve centenarian status. But the ever remarkable Walter Zachariasiewicz did just that recently on November 7, 2011. Ambassador Robert Kupiecki hosted a gala black tie birthday celebration for acclaimed Renaissance man Zachariasiewicz, Nov. 19, 2011, at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. Approximately 130 guests were in attendance. The event, conducted in Polish, featured a slide show of photos depicting Walter Zachariasiewicz’s amazing life, narrated by maestro Jerzy Sapieyevski playing at Paderewski’s piano. This was followed by a 1930s style cabaret show by a troupe of local Polish performers during which Walter was humorously scripted into the program. Among the many gifts Walter received was a commemorative officer’s sword from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which complimented his announced promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Polish Army. Many congratulatory letters were presented from the highest officials of the Polish government. Medals and awards too numerous to mention have already been bestowed upon Zachariasiewicz. Chief among them is Knight Commander in the Order of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II in 1991, and Commander in the order of Polonia Restituta by President Lech Walesa in 1995, and most recently Poland’s Bene Merito. Born in 1911 in Krakow, partitioned-Poland, Zachariasiewicz’s life was never dull and involved suffering and sacrifice for the independence of Poland. He graduated from Krakow’s acclaimed Jagiellonian University. During World War II he was arrested and deported to a gulag by the Russians. He was later released in 1942 and worked in the newly established Polish Embassy in Kujbyszew, Russia, and later served with Gen. Anders Polish Army that fought with the allies against Nazi-Germany. Upon emigrating to America in 1948, Zachariasiewicz worked as a Group Director for the Democratic Party, as well as an Assistant Postmaster General. He became very active and a major leader in Polish American organizations, as well as an effective and recognized lobbyist for the Polonia and Poland agendas on the national level. And thankfully, he still maintains a presence today. It was pleasingly obvious Zachariasiewicz is only closing out one century in order to start another when Ambassador Kupiecki said that since “Mr. Zachariasiewicz has already lived sto lat — perhaps we should wish him another 100 years,” to which Zachariasiewicz replied with his usual quick wry wit, “Why not?” Dwiescie Lat Walter Zachariasiewicz, a proud member of the Polish Apostolate Committee.