“Ohio’s Polish American community joins Polish people around the world in mourning the untimely death of Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski.,” said John Borkowski, president of the Polish American Congress-Ohio Division.

John Borkowski

“We join in the observance of the seven days of mourning initiated by the Polish government and send our prayers and condolences to the families of all that lost their lives in the this horrible tragedy.”

“During his five-years in office, President Kaczynski had been a great ally,” Borkowski continued, noting he was invited to dine with Kaczynski and his wife at the end of this month when they were scheduled to be in Chicago for the Constitution Weekend celebrations there. “His diplomacy and leadership were readily apparent as were his efforts to maintain a working relationship with the leaders of Polonia worldwide.”

“My heart goes out to the people of Poland and the families of those on the plane,” said Aundrea Cika, director of PolishYoungstown. “They died en route to remember another great national loss and gave their lives in the process. This is a horrible loss for all Polonia.”

In this video, Joe A. Lecznar, President and Rick Bentley, Vice-President of the Cleveland Society of Poles join John Borkowski from the Alliance of Poles in expressing their sadness at the tragic plane crash on behalf of Cleveland's Polonia.

The following is from the Youngstown Memorial Mass Eulogy

President Lech Kaczynski stood proudly and defiantly for democracy and human rights through even the most difficult times.

Although not universally supported, he will be remembered as a strong statesman who relentlessly stood for the values that he believed would make Poland a more prosperous and happier nation.

His sudden passing, and that of the wealth of cultural and talented leaders accompanying him, is a great loss for Polonia worldwide.

The fact that this accident would occur en route to commemorating one of the saddest events in Poland's history makes it laden with tragic irony. It is as if the Katyn forest itself is cursed as it becomes the graveyard for another impressive group of Polish civilian and political leaders and intellectuals.

As our Mother Country mourns this great national tragedy, Mahoning Valley Polonia extend their heartfelt sympathies to the government and the people of Poland. Just as we share in your cultural celebrations and joy, we now share in your sorrow and grief.

Memorial Masses were held at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Youngstown and St. John Cantius Church in Cleveland.

Below are some images of the memorial Mass at St. John Cantius Church and a video of the procession into church.

Rick Bentley (Vice-President) and Joe A. Lecznar (President) of the Cleveland Society of Poles

Bernadette Wielgus from Piast Dancers

Jakub Zimnoch, Max Niebrzydowski and Filip Niebrzydowski

Walter Borkowski

Joe Lecznar

Frank S. Janusczak

Anthony Kacki and Ashauni Suhak

Isabella Buehner with mother Jessica

Video of the Procession into Church

Wyrazy wspólczucia i jednosci w zalu po zmarlych.

"Words of sympathy and unity in the grief of the dead"