Schools

Vigil for Bart Palosz Draws Hundreds to GHS

This article was written by Leslie Yager

A prayer vigil for Bart Palosz, the 15-year old who took his life on the first day of school two weeks ago drew hundreds to Greenwich High School Tuesday night. 

During the somber ceremony several members Polish community addressed the crowd in Polish. Among the hundreds who gathered were GHS students, parents and dozens of motorcycle riders in matching leather jackets.

Superintendent McKersie said his goal is for Bart's death not to be a death in death in vain, "but to have him be a symbol for how we can learn in this community in Greenwich and in this school system how every student is loved. We don't tend to think this way but we have to think of love. That is the symbol we must carry forth."

A young father who identified himself only as from a Polish School in Bridgeport relayed the reasons he identifies with Bart and his family. Here are his remarks, which moved many in the crowd to tears:

"I am a parent to a wonderful kid who I love more than life itself. I know hard it is to take care and bring up children in today's world. Ultimately everything you do is for them or their direct benefit. But all these sacrifices and hard decisions are all but forgotten if our little ones are healthy, happy and thriving. You love them unconditionally and I have no idea what I would do if I ever lost one of them. It pains me greatly to think about it."

I too am a Polish immigrant who came to this country 19 years ago to find my American dream. I worked hard to get my college degree and I continue to work hard today. I found the love of my life here and became an American citizen. But despite all of that I will always be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Because of my accent and my love of Poland I will always be on the outside looking in.

I too was bullied once at my workplace. It was a horrific experience. I was repeatedly being called a stupid polock, an immigrant and worst of all a stupid punk. One day his biggest bully demanded a fist fight. I was petrified...but there was no turning back. So I fought him hard....I threw him to the ground. Blood was everywhere. I sat on to of him while others cheered him on. Oh, how much I hated all them at that moment. And how I wanted to punch his face in. I wanted to hurt him so badly, but I forced him to apologize to me and vouch that he would never bully me again. He did just that. And then the bullying stopped. From that day he became my ally. I never trusted him, but he was my ally."

Between speakers, there were songs in Polish and candles were lit. Finally, the crowd came forward and walked in silence through the front circle and up the sidewalk, many carrying American and Polish flags, as well as handmade signs with anti-bullying messages.


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