Photo Gallery

On October 15 2006, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich joined Chicago's Polish community to open the "Roads to Freedom - Europe via Solidarity" exhibition at St. Hyacinth Basilica. The exhibit comes to Chicago from Poland, and commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the Solidarity Movement - the movement that marked the beginning of the end of the Communist system in Central Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and Beata D. Debek, Midwest Liaison for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and Rev. Michal Osuch, pastor of the St. Hyacinth Basilica in Chicago.
Joined by First Lady Patricia Blagojevich, daughters Annie and Amy Blagojevich (left), and Father Michael Osucht (right), Governor Blagojevich addressed Chicago's Polish community at the opening ceremony of the "Roads to Freedom- to Europe through Solidarity" exhibition at St. Hyacinth Basilica.
Governor Blagojevich, joined by (from left to right) Father Michael Osucht, Beata Debek, Midwest Liaison, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich, daughter Amy Blagojevich and Chicago's Polish community, cut the ribbon to open the "Roads to Freedom- to Europe through Solidarity" exhibition at St. Hyacinth Basilica. The opening of the exhibit marks three very important anniversaries observed in Poland and by the Polish-American community: the 27 th anniversary of John Paul II Pontiff; the 25th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the communist government in Poland; and the 22nd anniversary of murder by the communist internal agency of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, a charismatic Catholic priest associated with the Solidarity union.
Beata Debek, Midwest Liaison for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation gave the Governor and the First Family a tour of the "Roads to Freedom- to Europe through Solidarity" exhibition at St. Hyacinth Basilica. The exhibition comes to Chicago from Poland and is sponsored by the Foundation for the Solidarity Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exhibit will remain in Chicago for the next few weeks.