NEW BRITAIN — A founder of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Caucus on Poland, U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., was presented the prestigious Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland on May 20.

Murphy, whose grandparents lived in the Broad Street area, was given the award during a ceremony at Polish Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf’s residence in Washington D.C.

“I grew up listening to my mother tell stories of her childhood in the tight-knit Polish community of New Britain, and eating the wonderful Polish food my grandmother and aunts would prepare,” Murphy said in a statement. “That part of my heritage, combined with the strong and vibrant Polish-American community in Connecticut, has really informed my interest over the years in the relationship between Poland and the United States, and has driven me to fight for issues important to Polish-Americans.”

Many in the Polish-American community said Murphy has been among their strongest political supporters.

“I think of all of the folks in the Senate, Senator Murphy has stuck his neck out more for the Polish community and the country of Poland than anyone,” said former Mayor Lucian J. Pawlak, who is Polish-American. “He deserves this honor.”

Darek Barcikowski is publisher of The White Eagle, a Polish-American newspaper based in New Britain.
“I’ve worked closely with him on the visa waiver issue,” said Barcikowski, also executive director of the Polish-American Advisory Council. “He supported adding Poland to the visa waiver, which is an extremely important issue to the Polish community. He’s shown tremendous leadership.”

Barcikowski added, “It’s long overdue that Polish nationals should be able to travel to the U.S. as tourists without the hassle and expenses of applying for a visa.”

Said Adrian Baron, president of the city-based Polonia Business Association, “We’re just very proud of him and his efforts on behalf of the Polish-American community and Connecticut itself.”