WHEREAS,
on April 10, 2010, the President and First Lady of Poland, Lech and Maria
Kaczynski, as well as many of Poland’s diplomatic, military and religious
leaders tragically died when the plane on which they were passengers crashed in
a forest in western Russia near the city of Smolensk; and
WHEREAS,
President Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman who, along with many of the
others who died on April 10th, played a key role in the Solidarity movement and
Poland’s inspiring democratic transformation; and
WHEREAS,
the Solidarity movement ended communism in Poland without bloodshed, inspiring
other nations under Soviet control to seek freedom and democracy and playing an
important role in the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe; and
WHEREAS,
the Polish leadership was traveling to Russia on April 10th to commemorate the
70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre (also known as the Katyn Forest
Massacre), the brutal mass execution of approximately 22,000 Polish military
officers, doctors, professors, lawmakers and civil servants committed in April
or May of 1940 by the Soviet Secret Police; and
WHEREAS,
with responsibility for the Katyn Massacre finally being acknowledged by the
Russian government, Poland and Russia have begun to build and re-establish
relationships that have been strained since World War II; and
WHEREAS,
the healing process between the two nations was to continue with the visit by
President Kaczynski and other leaders of a strong, vibrant and free Poland to
Katyn to commemorate the 70th anniversary of this unthinkable tragedy and
ensure that such events never reoccur in civilized society; and
WHEREAS,
the strength of Poland’s leaders and will of its great people will ensure that
Poland emerges from the depths of this most recent tragedy, and the legacy of
President Kaczynski and the leaders who died in Katyn in 1940 and on April 10,
2010, will continue to guide Poland in the direction of freedom and progress;
and
WHEREAS,
a deep bond of friendship exists between the people of the United States and
the people of Poland and Poland is among the strongest allies and partners of
the United States; and
WHEREAS,
the General Assembly believes it is appropriate to observe the month of April
as a time of remembrance to honor the memory of the victims of these tragic events
and their efforts to seek peace and reconciliation.
NOW,
THEREFORE:
BE
IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the 145th General Assembly of
the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the members hereby
mourn the deaths of Poland’s President, First Lady and many diplomatic,
military and religious leaders who died on April 10, 2010.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED the General Assembly hereby remembers the sacrifice of the
approximately 22,000 Polish citizens executed by the Soviet Secret Police in
the 1940 Katyn Massacre.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly hereby designate the month of April
as a month of remembrance to honor the memory of all the Polish leaders who
died in the Katyn Massacre and on April 10, 2010, and their efforts to seek
peace and reconciliation.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, upon passage, a suitably prepared and duly
authenticated copy of this resolution be sent to Ambassador Robert Kupiecki at
the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington,
D.C.
