10th Annual National Pierogy Day recognized in Shenandoah with borough hall flag raising
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SENTINEL PHOTO - Chris Dende, of Mrs T's, speaks to the crowd with the flag held in the background on October 8, 2018.
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
SHENANDOAH – Before a crowd of about 25, officials from Mrs. T’s Pierogies and the Borough of Shenandoah, recognized the 10th National Pierogy Day with a flag raising ceremony Monday morning.
“The beauty of what’s so special about today, here, is that this is part of our identity here in Shenandoah,” said Chris Dende, of Mrs. T’s, to the crowd. “We have so much to be proud of.”
“I can’t start without saying that someone in this town had a vision… that was looking at selling and making something, and look at what today is,” Dende added. “We’re nearly a billion pierogies a year.”
A guest recognized during the ceremony was William Shafransky, a delivery person for the Capitol Food Store in Shenandoah in the 1950s when Mrs. T’s Pierogies were first sampled there.
Shafransky had a 1950s diecast delivery van marked for Mrs T’s with him. Prior to the event, he told a story of when he’d deliver pierogies.
Dende then continued to speak of the history of pierogies, saying they were first a sign of appreciation.
“The root of the word pierogy is feast, is fest,” added Dende. “It’s family. It’s love. It’s memories. It’s tradition, like what Bill brought.
”We need that ‘making people smile’ approach,'” said Dende, referring both to pierogies and Sunday’s picnic. “We need that in this world.”
The flag was then raised with the American flag.
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