Project 3 :

CEMETERY OF GENERAL HALLER’S RECRUITS’ GENEALOGICAL REUNIFICATION PROJECT

One hundred years ago, over 24,000 men from across America volunteered to leave their new homeland and serve in the Polish Army in France to regain Poland’s independence during WWI. The recruits trained under Canadian officers at “Camp Kosciuszko” in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada. During their training, 41 recruits died from the Spanish Flue Epidemic, which had claimed over 6 million persons across the world. Of those men, 26 are interred in the Cemetery of General Haller’s Recruits at Saint Vincent de Paul’s Parish Cemetery. Scant records remain of these fallen soldiers from America.

To honor the memory of these unsung men sacrificed from amongst our communities, this project calls upon all of Polonia to unite. Participation is sought from every interested Polish American individual and organization.

1. The first step has been to identify the names and origins, and in some cases, where the recruit noted such on his enlistment papers, the organizational recruitment affiliation. The following map and list has been supplied through the generosity of committee member Paul S. Valasek, author of the invaluable research volume Haller’s Polish Army in France. The book is available by Email to: hallersarmy@aol.com
2. From Steven’s Point Wisconsin to Providence Rhode Island, from the Polish Falcons, Polish National Alliance and Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, this list shows the breadth of our Great Nation from where our honored responded!
3. This project now appeals to each division of the Polish American Congress, and national organization, to re-adopt your recruit.
4. The project requests that each division and organization establish a mechanism, a centennial committee, to recruit volunteers to locate and find the descendants of these men given from amongst your own. It is the first step to give honor to these men from the communities from which they came!
5. The project calls upon all Polish American organizations and media to promote and publicize this endeavor.
6. Once locating any descendants, it would be proper and fitting, to invite and present these family members at the cemetery to give the honor to these men on your organization’s and community’s behalf. This honor will be held at the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Opening of the Polish Army Training Camp (Camp Kosciuszko) on Sunday, June 11, 2017.
7. One Hundredth Anniversary of Camp Kosciuszko Commemorative Program Book.
8. In honor of each recruit buried in the cemetery, the project requests that each adoptive entity place a tribute to your son in the program book. A tribute page to each recruit would include:
9. • The name of the recruit, along with whatever historical information can be found, hopefully even a photo, enlistment, fraternal, county honor roll, or parish records.
   • The name and logo of the honoring entity, the Polish American Congress Division or national organization’s district geographically encompassing the recruit’s hometown.
   • The name of the descendant presenting the honor at the cemetery on the entities behalf.
10. In addition to the time and energy expended by organizations and volunteers, the project invites financial help to off set costs of publications, and for potential descendants and attendees who may not be able to totally self finance travel and attendance burdens.
11. Call for quick action. The centennial opening ceremony at the cemetery is quickly approaching. Time is of the essence, and hopefully the fruit of this initial project will manifest itself in many opportunities throughout the WWI Centennial. * Please use the tab: "Share and Submit a Story"  found on the left side menu bar under "Stories". 
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