|Pulaski Was The Hero of Two Countries |
2/23/2005 - For immediate release
Date: February 21, 2005
Contact: George Otto
Pulaski was hero of two countries
This Monday, March 7, we are celebrating Pulaski Day in the state of Illinois. Who is he? Casimir Pulaski was born May 4, 1747, Warka, Poland. Not all our citizens are cognizant of who he is and why we are celebrating this day. Casimir Pulaski has cities, counties, mountains and streets named in his honor. A statue of his likeness on a horse stands in front of the White House, and huge monument has been erected by the city of Savannah, Ga., where he died for American freedom on Oct 11, 1779.
Pulaski was a Polish and American general who fought for the Polish and American revolutions and was killed while storming the British fortifications at Savannah. The battle was won that day, but Pulaski lay mortally wounded on board a U.S. warship Wasp. General George Washington ordered that all Army units honor the fallen Polish hero. General Washington ordered that all army units honor the fallen Polish hero, on October 11, 1779. Pulaski gave his life for a country that might live free. Continental Congress paid homage to Pulaski for the brave deeds performed by him.
Pulaski was a Polish general who tried to liberate his country from the Russian invaders in Poland. He made initial progress to drive the Russians out of Poland, but the overwhelming might of Russia made his efforts impossible. Soon regular battles were impossible. Instead, he made use of the terrain in partisan fighting, refusing to meet the Russian army in an open battle. He harassed the occupier with guerilla raids on horseback. Realizing that such raids were not going any place against superior forces, he had to flee his beloved Poland to take refuge in France. In Paris Benjamin
Franklin recruited him for the American cause to come to the American Colonies to free their people from the occupier, Great Britain.
Arriving in Marblehead, Mass., on July 23, 1777, Pulaski soon was dispatched to Gen. Washington, who made him a U.S. brigadier general. Because of Pulaski’s experience with the Polish cavalry and guerrilla warfare, Washington gave Pulaski the task of forming the first U.S. horse soldiers in the American Revolution, thus becoming the father of the U.S. Cavalry. At the Valley Forge winter retreat in 1777-78, Pulaski reorganized and trained the U.S. Cavalry.
Pulaski soon proved his prowess when he repelled the attacking British troops and saved scarce military supplies that otherwise would have fallen to the enemy. His horse soldiers and military skills saved Washington him self from a sudden, unexpected British attack. He could not stop the British advances, but he did delay the fight long enough to save Washington and his troops from possible capture.
In 1778, recognizing the benefits of horse soldiers, Washington commissioned Pulaski to form four light Cavalry regiments. Pulaski distinguished himself in many battles before being mortally wounded in 1779.
On March 3, 1986, Governor James Thomson signed a bill declaring the first Monday in March a state holiday honoring Pulaski. Secretary of State, as state librarian, issued literature to all Illinois schools and libraries on the life of Pulaski, the Hero of two Nations. School children have the opportunity to learn and rediscover the heroes of the American Revolution in their class assignments. Chicago schools and government are closed.
The Polish-American community honors General Pulaski in schools, churches, social and fraternal organizations. The main event will be hosted at the Polish Museum, 984 N. Milwaukee, on Monday, March 7; at 10:00 a.m., elected officials and dignitaries will be in attendance. At night a festive gala banquet, organized by the Polish American Congress, will take place at 6:00 p.m. at Jolly Inn, 6501 Irving Park Road.
Dr. George Otto
Co-chair of Pulaski Day