The death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and 96 others in a Russian plane crash hit New Britain residents particularly hard, where 25 percent of the population is of Polish decent.
The staff at Staropolska Restaurant on Broad Street was glued to Polish television Saturday. Margaret Malinowski said she was alerted to the tragedy by a friend who called and said the president's plane went down.
"It's on everyone's mind...it's really tragic, it's a sad day for the Polish community. You see Polish people whether they're on the street or in stores, and everyone is talking about it, " she said.
Miss Poland USA Magdalena Slycz, said her role as a pageant queen will take on new meaning in the wake of the tragedy.
"Showing our support and uniting and letting our presence across the world be known will be very powerful, " she said.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell released a statement Sunday in both Polish and English. It read in part:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Polish community in Poland and the U.S. at this sad and difficult time.
"Nasze mysli i modlitwy sa z calym Polskim narodem i Polonia w USA podczas tego smutnego i ciezkiego czasu.
Special memorial services are being held Sunday at the following churches:
St. Michael Parish, Derby, 11:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart Church of New Britain, 158 Broad St., New Britain, 3:00 p.m.
Holy Cross Church, 31 Biruta St., New Britain, 3:00 p.m.
St. Cyril & St. Methodius, 55 Charter Oak Ave. Hartford, 4:00 p.m.
