From The Polish American Congress Page:

PILLARS OF THE POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS

The Polish Falcons of America

The Polish Falcons of America [Sokolstwo Polskie w Ameryce] dates its origins to the creation of its first local group, or "nest" in Chicago in 1887, its aim that of providing young persons and children with regular opportunities to engage in physical fitness and gymnastic exercises and to inculcate in them a deepened pride in their heritage. In 1894 an "Alliance" of Polish Falcons nests was established that eventually grew into a national movement. In 1928 the Falcons' fraternalism assumed its present shape when the organizations adopted its own insurance program.

Over the years the PFA has supplemented its original physical fitness activities with baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, bowling, golf and scouting programs. Other freefalls have adopted similar programs but in the Falcons' tradition athletics hold a special place of esteem. Thus every four years a national athletic meet [zlot] is held in conjunction with the Fraternal's convention. In this fashion the PFA remains true to its historic motto, "W zdrowym ciele zdrowy duch!" [A healthy spirit in a healthy body].

The Falcons' story is distinctive in that the PFA is the one Polish American fraternal to owe its origins directly to Soko1 organizations already active in Poland by the 1860s. Interestingly, in 1994 the American branch of the movement is busy working with Falcons nests in Poland, which have been reborn after nearly five decades of repression.

In the World War I era, the Falcons transformed their traditional physical fitness programs into paramilitary training activities, anticipating the creation of an army of Polish Americans traveling to Europe to fight on behalf of the liberation of the homeland. In fact approximately 9,000 Falcons saw military service in the War both in France and later in Poland itself.

Today the Pittsburgh-based PFA is a dynamic fraternal. Licensed to operate in eight states, the Falcons count nearly 30,000 members, $23 million in assets and $46 million in insurance in force. The Fraternal maintains its own twice-monthly publication, fittingly named Sokol Polski [The Polish Falcon] as well as impressive museum detailing its rich and many-faceted story.

In 1944 the Polish Falcons of America, led by their legendary President, Dr. Teofil Starzynski, played an important role in the founding of the Polish American Congress. Under Starzynski's successors the PFA has remained involved in all aspects of PAC life. Thus among those Falcons who have served as the Congress' national secretary have been Harriet Bielanski of Chicago, Bernard Rogalski of Jackson, Michigan (PFA President between 1980 and 1988) and the PFA's former President's, Lawrence Wujcikowski of Buffalo, and Wallace Zielinski.