Recognizing, Honoring, And Celebrating The 400th Anniversary Of The First Polish Settlers In America, Who Arrived On October 1, 1608.

WHEREAS,

On October 1, 1608, the ship

Mary and Margaret

arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, with a few Polish passengers, who had been hired by the Virginia Company of London to establish a glass facility in the Colony at the request of Colony leader Captain John Smith, who observed that, “There are no better workers than the Poles;” and

WHEREAS,

The Polish settlers were vitally important to the establishment of the glass industry in America with the construction and operation of the first American glass factory, producing glass products for export to England, as well as pitch and tar, that helped ensure the survival of the Colony despite the hardships of settling a new land ; and

WHEREAS,

The Jamestown Polish settlers helped to contribute to the American democratic tradition by staging the first labor strike in America in 1619 to protest against the denial of their right to vote for representatives in the Virginia Assembly under the slogan: “No vote, no work,” producing economic chaos in the Colony, and resulting in the extension of the right to vote to the Polish settlers; and

WHEREAS,

Over the years since these first Polish settlers arrived in 1608, many people from Poland have immigrated to America—including a large and important presence in Philadelphia—comprising the sixth largest ethnic group in the United States, with more than 20 million Americans sharing a Polish heritage, and known for their vital contributions to American Society in the fields of science, politics, sports, religion, the military, human services, the arts, as well as many others; and

WHEREAS,

The City of Philadelphia looks forward to another 400 years—and more—of Polish-American contributions to our City, Commonwealth, and Country; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, THAT IT,

Recognizes, Honors, and Celebrates the 400th Anniversary of the First Polish Settlers in America, who arrived on October 1, 1608.

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Polish American Congress, Eastern Pennsylvania District, further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End