Casimir Pulaski Day

Casimir Pulaski Day is annually celebrated on the first Monday in March to honor the birth of Casimir Pulaski who was a Polish-Polish soldier. He is considered as "father of the American Cavalry"

Who Was Casimir Pulaski?

Casimir Pulaski was born in Waka, Poland, on March 4, 1747. He decided to follow his father to become a military commander, assisting the Polish Army against Russian domination. During his battles, he became famous and considered as a skilled soldier. However, after being accused of plotting to kill the king, he was forced into exile and immigrated to America, at the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin, to help the American army during the Revolution.

He joined George Washington's army and, after his victory over the British at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, was promoted to commander of the cavalry. He then led his cavalry team to successfully break through the British encirclement in South Carolina and was sent to join a rally with Allied France. However, the French were losing on the battlefield, and after joining the battle to mobilize the troops, he was hit and killed by a cannonball.

On October 11, 1779, Casimir Pulaski died and was buried at sea.

He was granted Honorary Citizenship by the United States Congress in 2009, an order signed by President Barack Obama.

History of Casimir Pulaski Day

During the 19th century, Chicago became one of the central centers of Polish immigration, with thousands of people coming to the city each year. Many of these citizens have faced enormous discrimination by the local population. During the 1930s, many Polish citizens changed the image of Poles towards the locals by championing Casimir Pulaski - seeing him as a great Polish war hero during the Revolution to combat this discrimination. From the 1930s to the early 1970s, Casimir Pulaski's profile continued to grow. It wasn't until the Polish-American Congress successfully lobbied for a bill in Illinois that the decision on the first Monday of March was Casimir Pulaski Day 1977.

However, it was originally just a day of celebration - meaning schools were still open on this day. It didn't become a holiday until 1985. Finally, in some parts of Illinois, other government offices and banks began to close on this day as well.

Celebrating Casimir Pulaski Day

This day is celebrated by holding public ceremonies and parades, as well as holding commemorative fairs.

Most schools will dedicate their classes to learning about the life and achievements of Casimir Pulaski.

Casimir Pulaski Day recently rose to fame because of a song of the same name by Sufjan Stevens. In the song, the lyrics talk about the death of one of the musician's friends that happened on this holiday.