General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2014

Proclamation 9192 of October 10, 2014

General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2014

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

More than 200 years ago, Brigadier General Casimir
Pulaski answered the call of our fledgling Nation as we
sought to secure liberty and justice. A Polish-born
leader, he fought and sacrificed his life for a country
not fully his own. He understood that the promise of
our new Nation was not about circumstance of birth, but
rather a set of beliefs and unalienable rights. Today,
we pay tribute to a hero of the American Revolutionary
War, and we celebrate the contributions that
generations of Polish-Americans have made to the
country for whose independence Pulaski took up arms.

As a young man, Casimir Pulaski fought for Polish
sovereignty, defending his homeland from foreign
occupation with courage and bravery. After many years,
his confederation was overpowered, and he was exiled to
France where he met Benjamin Franklin. With Franklin,
Pulaski discussed America's struggle to throw off the
tyranny of an empire, and in 1777, Pulaski crossed the
Atlantic to stand with a small band of patriots.

In America, Pulaski served with honor and distinction.
During battle, he aided George Washington and--because
of his leadership and skill on horseback--became known
as the ``Father of the American Cavalry.'' But
tragically in October of 1779, as Pulaski led his
troops during the siege of Savannah, Georgia, he was
mortally wounded. While he was not witness to the
conclusion of the war, his memory is forever enshrined
in the pages of its history.

Pulaski's life represents only one chapter in the
Polish people's long and storied legacy of fighting for
freedom. This year, we celebrated the 25th anniversary
of an election where, for the first time, the people of
Poland had a choice. The culmination of centuries of
struggle, it marked the beginning of a new course for
Poland--one that has ushered in the return of democracy
and demonstrated the enduring strength of the ideals
our two nations share. As we also recognize the 15th
anniversary of Poland's membership in NATO, we are
proud to call Poland one of our strongest and closest
allies, and we are reminded that the blessings of
liberty must be earned and renewed by every generation.

On General Pulaski Memorial Day, we reflect on the
beginnings of our relationship with Poland. In the
centuries since, Polish immigrants have sought the
opportunities in America that Pulaski helped secure,
and as they have, our nations' bonds of friendship have
grown stronger. As we renew our commitment to honoring
all those who fought for the freedom of our new Nation,
let us resolve to stand with developing democracies
around the world and with all people yearning to be
free.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2014, as
General Pulaski Memorial Day. I encourage all Americans
to commemorate this occasion with appropriate programs
and activities paying tribute to Casimir Pulaski and
honoring all those who defend the freedom of our
Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
ninth.