May 1, 2014 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- The Polish Constitution Day Parade airs Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:30 pm only on ABC7 Chicago.
Join ABC 7 Eyewitness News Anchor/Reporter Alan Krashesky as he once again
serves as host of "The Polish Constitution Day Parade" broadcast which airs
Saturday, May 3, 11:30 PM-12:30 AM on ABC 7 Chicago. Anna Sobor, Vice Chairman,
Polish Constitution Day Parade Committee, will join Krashesky in the broadcast
booth to capture all the pageantry of the event. (The parade takes place on
Saturday, May 3 at 11:30 am.) ABC 7 Chicago is the only local television station
to broadcast this year's parade.
The theme for the 123rd Annual Polish Constitution Day Parade is "Saint John
Paul II: Poland's Gift to the World." The theme honors the Pope's canonization
to sainthood on April 27, 2014 at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Prior to the
parade, Alan Krashesky will be live, in Rome for ABC 7 Eyewitness News coverage
of the canonization mass at St. Peter's Square.
ABC 7 Eyewitness News team members Judy Hsu, Jason Knowles, Diane Pathieu and
Phil Schwarz are scheduled to participate in the festivities and will ride along
the parade route on Columbus Drive, from Balboa to Monroe, atop the ABC 7
Chicago Float.
The Grand Marshal for the 2014 parade is Edward Mika, former president of the
Alliance of Polish Clubs and longtime community activist. Mika spearheaded the
renewal of the parade and was chairman for ten years. Serving as Vice Marshals
for this year's parade are Dorota Malachowska, President, Board of Directors,
Gift from the Heart Foundation, funding surgery for children with disabilities;
and Anna Sokolowska, Vice President, Polish Roman Catholic Union and longtime
volunteer in the Polish community.
Paulina Soltys,19, is the Queen of the Polish Constitution Day Parade. Anna
is a student at DePaul University in Chicago and a member of the Polish
Highlanders folkloric dance group "Siumni" based on Chicago's southwest side.
The Polish Constitution Day Parade is the largest Polish parade outside of
Poland and celebrates the anniversary of the ratification of the Polish
Constitution on May 3, 1791. For 123 years, Polonia's various community
organizations have come together to organize this traditional Chicago salute to
pride and tradition. An estimated 100 units will be participating in the 2014
parade.