Res. No. 421

Resolution declaring October 11 as Casimir Pulaski Day in the city of New York.

By Council Members Holden, Van Bramer, Gjonaj, Ulrich, Vallone, Rivera, Kallos, Lander and Constantinides

Whereas, Casimir Pulaski was born in Warsaw, Poland, on March 6, 1745; and

Whereas, At the age of fifteen, Casimir Pulaski joined his father, Count Josef Pulaski, and other members of the Polish nobility, to oppose the Russian and Prussian interference in Polish affairs; and

Whereas, The Polish American Center states that Casimir Pulaski, after fighting throughout Europe in defense of Polish liberty, was forced to flee to Paris, where he met Benjamin Franklin and became a strong supporter of the American colonists within the American Revolution; and

Whereas, In 1777, Casimir Pulaski arrived in Philadelphia, meeting George Washington, and volunteering his services to help the American colonists fight England; and

Whereas, The National Park Service asserts that on September 15, 1777, the American congress promoted Pulaski to the rank of Brigadier General in command of the Four Horse Brigades, due to his vast military experience and successes; and

Whereas, According to the Polish American Center, Casimir Pulaski became known as the “Father of the American Cavalry,” demanding much of his men and training them in tested cavalry tactics, many of which he used in his fight for freedom in Poland; and

Whereas, In May 1778, Pulaski began to form an independent cavalry unit later known as the Pulaski Legion, of which he personally financed in order to assure his forces had the finest equipment and received the best training; and

Whereas, Casimir Pulaski and his Legion were instrumental in protecting America’s independence, including being involved in action along the New Jersey coast in October 1778, defending Charleston, South Carolina in May 1779, and fighting in the Siege of Savannah in Georgia in October 1779; and

Whereas, On October 11, 1779, Casimir Pulaski died, due to being mortally wounded during the Siege of Savannah; and

Whereas, Casimir Pulaski is a Polish-American hero who came from Poland to assist the American colonists during their fight with the British in the American Revolution, and is an integral part of American and Polish history; and

Whereas, A national day in observance of Casimir Pulaski was established in 1929 when the United States Congress passed a resolution (Public Resolution 16 of 1929) designating October 11 as General Pulaski Memorial Day, with a proclamation for the observance being issued every year since 1929, except in 1930; and

Whereas, New York City has an annual Pulaski Day Parade on Fifth Avenue which is held on the first Sunday of October and closely coincides with the nationally held General Pulaski Memorial Day, while other cities, such as Chicago, Illinois, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Buffalo, New York have celebrated Casimir Pulaski with parades, and/or days of commemoration;

Whereas, The declaration of October 11 as Casimir Pulaski Day in New York City will strengthen Polish-American pride, as well as celebrate and commemorate a man who is an integral part of American and Polish history; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the City of New York declare October 11 as Casimir Pulaski Day.

LS#6218

3/29/18

KK