Casimir Pulaski (1745-1779) was a Polish nobleman, soldier, and military commander. Pulaski fought for the Continental Army during the American Revolution against the British and was nicknamed “The Father of the American Cavalry”. He was born in Warsaw, Poland and died in Thunderbolt Georgia at the age of 34 years old. Pulaski was exiled from Russia after supporting the cause of Polish-Lithuanian freedom.
Through a recommendation from Benjamin Franklin, Pulaski came to America to support the fight for freedom against the British. He fought for freedom his entire life until he was fatally wounded at the Siege of Savannah during the Revolution. Pulaski was a trusted ally of George Washington, as seen by the multiple letters that were found written between them, and even saved his life when he led a skillful attack against the British which allowed Washington and his men to retreat as it looked like they were about to be defeated.
“To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 15 November 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-18-02-0157
Notorious LIC Park : NYC parks. (n.d.). https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/bridge-and-tunnel-park “A Proclamation on General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2022.” The White House, October 11, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/10/11/a-proclamation-on-general-pulaski-memorial-day-2022/