Polish Military Alliance of America

The Polish Military Alliance of America is best described in its own words beginning on page 19 of its reception and ball program booklet from January 9, 1918. I have fixed a few spelling/grammar errors and have italicized anything I added or changed. After the description I provide a link to the program booklet for downloading, a description of how this booklet was obtained and finally an alphabetical list of names in the booklet.

"The Polish Military Alliance of America is an organization formed upon military principles only. Since the first Polish immigration in the early eighteen sixties from Europe the majority of its members were men active in the last Revolutionary uprising for the Independence of Poland in the year 1863. These men deprived of the privilege of liberty originating from a chivalrous race of famous Polands Knights, they have found in this country a haven of refuge when they have learned, that the forming of uniformed societies was not forbidden, immediately there have been organized units here and there of uniformed societies, to uphold the valorous traditions of militarism of Polands great men.

In passing of time these societies created a rather close association with each other in a way of cooperation and it is from that foundation and ideas of love for Freedom and Liberty, that there has arisen several years ago a new kind of an organization, not for profit, not for insurance or death benefit, but an organization whose idea and mission is to preach loyalty and love for this Government of adoption in appreciation for the Freedom, Liberty and Equality that this country offered.

In consolidating these numerous and heretofore unattached units of uniformed societies through this country, it was decided that it shall be a military organization exclusively, whose members would be loyal to the principles of the government of the United States, who enlisting in the ranks of this organization place themselves at the call of this country.

This was the origin of the Polish Military Alliance of America, whose progress is noted by adoption of the regular drill regulation of the United States Army and finally the uniforming of its members in the regulation army uniforms, which was passed at its National Convention at Utica, NY in the year 1914.

In view of the numerous hardships and sacrifices imposed upon those joining its ranks, by the requirements that each member purchase his uniform and gun, these have steadily increased, with units in various states of the union the organization had proved valuable in many instances.

That the members of this organization proved themselves as worthy descendants of Kosciuszko and Pulaski, the heroes of our revolutionary war, can best be said by the fact, that this organization prides itself to be one of (continuing on page 21) the first to offer its services to our President Wilson, as a unit immediately upon the declaration of war against Germany. It was one of the first organizations advocating the creation of a Polish Army unit to be attached to the regular US Army, this being too slow of a process, this organization takes pride that it originated the idea of establishing an exclusively Polish recruiting office in Chicago, which was pronounced a successful idea by the Army recruiting official, and recent census taken and reported by its units throughout the Country it is noted that fully fifty percent of its membership have joined the colors in the regular service.

The depleted ranks of the organization in no way caused any discouragement to the national officers, those of the members who for various reasons were unable to enter in the regular service, beseeched the officers for a word of hope and encouragement, that they could offer to do their bit. This now possible by organizing State reserve forces for home defense. The work was commenced in Chicago where by authority of the State Council of Defense, there was organized an exclusively Polish Battalion of "Home Guards". This battalion bears the name of its parent organization which has tendered it for State service, which is now recruited to its full quota and fully officered by men who had been commissioned after submitting to the prescribed examinations.

It is for this Battalion, that funds are now being sought to purchase uniforms for the men who enlisted for State service, as due to lack of legislative appropriations, each man was expected to purchase his own equipment, it is a hardship that, the patriotic public should lessen for the men who volunteered to protect their homes and lives, as with authority of the State Council of Defense, funds are now being subscribed for this purpose.

With formation of the first Battalion however further work is not letting up, as with the authority of the Military Committee of the Illinois State Council of Defense a full regiment is the mark that has been set out to be reached, at this writing the second Battalion is nearing completion, and it will not be long before a full regiment of loyal Polish citizens will be in the State Service.

The success of the Chicago units inspired the entire organization to action, and now the organization of State Guards is in progress in all of the States wherever there is to be found a subordinate unit of the Polish Military Alliance of America."

The above description was from pages 19 and 21 of the reception and ball program booklet. This downloadable file is in DJVU format so you will need a standalone DJVU reader if you don't already have one. Note that page 13 of the booklet is a photocopy of the original page. Page 14 was not available for inclusion but probably had advertising. Below, I have created an alphabetical list of names mentioned in the booklet. In June 2009, I was contacted by someone who had a copy of the booklet and was asked to scan it. I hadn't done anything with it at that time and only by chance found the scans on a hard drive from the computer I used back then.