2008 Pulaski Day Parade
Grand Marshal
Maria Koleda

The Polish American Congress, Eastern Pennsylvania District, is proud to announce that Maria Koleda will be the Grand Marshal of the 2008 Pulaski Day Parade that will take place on Sunday, October 5th, in Center City Philadelphia, PA.

The Polish American Congress selected Maria Koleda in recognition of her more than 30 years of participation with the Polish American Congress and its member organizations. Since Maria immigrated from Poland to Philadelphia as a young teenager with her parents, Witold and Zofia Suchoicki, and her brother and sisters, Maria and her family proudly participated in Polish American community activities. Maria attended St. Adalbert School, Nazareth Academy High School and Immaculata University, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Maria and her husband Marek have a son, Marek, and two daughters, Renata and Aneta. As a music enthusiast and singer, Maria has served as the leader of the youth choir “Pokolenie” and leader and singer in the Piast Band, and continues to conduct singing of 100 students of St. Adalbert Polish Language School. Maria has been the president of the school since 1996. Maria is also the Administrative Vice President at the Philadelphia Warehousing and Cold Storage Company.

Maria Koleda is a long time member of the Polish American Congress, Eastern PA District, its Youth Committee, Pulaski Day Observance Committee, Polish American Heritage Month Committee and a participant in various events sponsored by the Polish American Cultural Center Museum in Historic Philadelphia. The Polish American Congress and the entire Polonia extend congratulations to Maria Koleda, Philadelphia’s 2008 Pulaski Day Parade Grand Marshal.

In October, 2008, the Polish American community is marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Polish settlers to America and the 75th anniversary of Philadelphia’s Pulaski Day Parade. A brief schedule of the Pulaski Observance events during October, Polish American Heritage Month, is listed here. Everyone is invited to attend.