Description

For more than nine centuries the Andruszkiewicz family remained together, strong and united. The 20th century finds the family separated by partitions and growing poor from the partitioning in finances, family integrity, and unification. Even after the new republic is formed the families grow more distant. Many have left Poland just prior to World War I and lost track of each other. World War II will separate and destroy the family even more, and yet it will re-unite some that didn't even know the other existed. Their new lives in their new countries become overpowering. Daily life struggles causes them to forget their history. It is only from the strength of their religion and faith in the Blessed Mother that they retain their Polish heritage. In the mid-century the fear of communism and anything Russian strikes fear in the minds of governments and their people. The name Andruszkiewicz has more of a Russian sound to the western ear than its true Polish roots. To survive in America immigrants are urged to become part of the 'melting pot' of the American people. The 'old ways' are slowly forgotten and the first generations brought into this new world are enveloped into this homogenizing culture. If the individual family ever loses its faith with the Blessed Virgin it, too, will see its own dissolution and siblings and cousins will loose their internal connections. The loss of faith creates the loss of family integrity. The second generation will see the near complete evaporation of the family unit as America blends them into the melting pot.