III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 579 

Designating December 13, 2006 as a Day of Remembrance to honor the 

25th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the Communist 

government in Poland. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 21, 2006 

Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. SANTORUM) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating December 13, 2006 as a Day of Remembrance 

to honor the 25th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the Communist government in Poland. 

Whereas, on May 9, 1945, Europe declared victory over the 

oppression of the Nazi regime; 

Whereas Poland and other countries in Central, Eastern, and 

Southern Europe soon fell under the oppressive control of 

the Soviet Union; 

Whereas for decades the people of Poland struggled heroicly 

for freedom and democracy against that oppression, paying at times the ultimate sacrifice; 

Whereas, in 1980, the Solidarity Trade Union was formed in 

Poland; 


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•SRES 579 ATS 

Whereas membership in the Solidarity Trade Union grew 

rapidly in size to 10,000,000 members, and the Union 

obtained unprecedented moral power that soon threatened the Communist government in Poland; 

Whereas, on December 13, 1981, the Communist government 

in Poland crushed the Solidarity Trade Union, imprisoned the leaders of the Union, and imposed martial law 

on Poland; 

Whereas, through his profound influence, Pope John Paul II 

gave the people of Poland the hope and strength to bear 

the torch of freedom that eventually lit up all of Europe; 

Whereas the support of the Polish-American community while 

martial law was imposed on Poland was essential in encouraging the people of Poland to continue to struggle 

for liberty; 

Whereas the people of the United States were greatly supportive of the efforts of the people of Poland to rid themselves of an oppressive government; 

Whereas the people of the United States expressed their support on Christmas Eve 1981 by lighting candles in their 

homes to show solidarity with the people of Poland who 

were suffering under martial law; 

Whereas, in 1989, the people of Poland finally won the right 

to hold free parliamentary elections, which led to the election of Poland’s first Prime Minister during the post-war 

era who was not a member of the Communist party, Mr. 

Tadeusz Mazowiecki; and 

Whereas, in 2006, Poland is an important member of the European Union, one of the closest allies of the United 

States, a contributing partner in the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organisation, and a reliable partner in the war on 


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•SRES 579 ATS 

terrorism that maintains an active and crucial presence 

in Iraq and Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates December 13, 2006, the 25th an3 niversary of the imposition of martial law by the 

4 Communist government in Poland, as a Day of Re5 membrance honoring the sacrifices paid by the peo6 ple of Poland during the struggle against Com7 munist rule; 

8 (2) honors the people of Poland who risked 

9 their lives to restore liberty in Poland and to return 

10 Poland to the democratic community of nations; and 

11 (3) calls on the people of the United States to 

12 remember that the struggle of the people of Poland 

13 greatly contributed to the fall of Communism and 

14 the ultimate end of the Cold War. 

Æ 


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