June 10-th, 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first volunteers to the Kosciuszko Military Training Camp in the Niagara on The Lake. This celebration was designated as the first official Polish American event of the U.S. WWI Centennial Commission.
Locally, the Polish American Congress, Western New York Division Inc., and Canadian Polish Congress have annually sponsored a pilgrimage to the cemetery at Niagara-On-The-Lake
The Annual Pilgrimage started at 12:00 p.m. on June 11 at the St. Vincent de Paul, with a military inspection of the veterans’ organizations. Then a Catholic Mass was celebrated at the cemetery chapel. Following the Mass, a parade proceeded to the Cenotaph, where wreaths were laid honoring those Polish and Canadian volunteers of General Haller’s Blue Army who gave their lives in WWI.
All the members of the parade gathered at 11:30am. The event was open to public, with everyone being welcomed to attend to commemorate the centenary of ultimate sacrifice of General Haller’s Blue Army Soldiers and Recruits.
There are more interesting facts about history of the Kosciuszko Camp and General Haller’s Blue Army under the following link.
Text: Maria Wojewnik
Source: Niagara-On-The-Lake-Museum, by Google Arts & Culture