[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 36 (Monday, March 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2645-S2646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROCLAIMING CASIMIR PULASKI TO BE AN HONORARY CITIZEN OF THE UNITED 
                          STATES POSTHUMOUSLY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S.J. Res. 12.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the joint resolution by 
title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 12) proclaiming Casimir 
     Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States 
     posthumously.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I speak on the resolution honoring 
the valor of GEN Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolution who 
made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of American freedom. This 
resolution would grant honorary posthumous citizenship to General 
Pulaski, a long overdue tribute to a man who gave his life to the cause 
of American independence.
  I thank Senator Lisa Murkowski, the lead Republican cosponsor of this 
resolution, as well as other original cosponsors, Senators Mikulski, 
Cardin, Whitehouse, Dodd, Brown, Burris, and Pryor.
  As a young soldier, Casimir Pulaski developed a reputation as a 
highly skilled military tactician, whose activities to advance the 
cause of Polish liberty against Russian influence ultimately led to his 
exile from Poland. Seeking refuge, Pulaski traveled to France, where he 
met an American diplomat who convinced him to join the Continental Army 
in its struggle for independence. That diplomat was so impressed with 
the Polish general, that, in a letter to George Washington, he 
described Pulaski as an officer ``renowned throughout Europe for the 
courage and bravery he displayed in defense of his country's freedom.'' 
That diplomat's name was Ben Franklin.
  Casimir Pulaski adopted the revolutionary spirit of the American 
colonists and came to America to fight in their quest for self-
determination.
  On September 11, 1777, Casimir Pulaski fought with distinction in the 
Battle of Brandywine. His bravery and skill in battle averted American 
defeat and helped save the life of George Washington. Upon Washington's 
recommendation, the Continental Congress promoted Pulaski to general, 
and appointed him General of the Cavalry. That same year, Casimir 
Pulaski wrote to George Washington, ``I came here, where freedom is 
being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.'' General 
Pulaski's letter would prove prophetic, when, during a major offensive 
against British forces in Savannah, GA, Pulaski was mortally wounded. 
He died at sea, aboard the USS Wasp, on October 11, 1779.
  General Pulaski's life and death inspired his contemporaries as he 
inspires us today. Shortly after his death, the Continental Congress 
resolved to build a monument in his honor that proved to be the first 
of many. In 1825, General Lafayette, an honorary American citizen, laid 
the cornerstone for the Pulaski monument in Savannah, GA. In 1929, 
Congress resolved that October 11 of each year would be Pulaski Day in 
the United States, and several States have followed that example. There 
are countless schools, streets, towns, and memorials across this 
country that bear his name--and honor his contributions to our Nation's 
birth.
  Today is Pulaski Day in Illinois. In 1973, my own state of Illinois 
designated the first Monday of March as Pulaski Commemorative Day and 
in 1986 declared that day to be a State holiday.
  We in Illinois are privileged to have a large and vibrant Polish-
American community. From Casimir Pulaski to legendary artists like 
Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Polish-Americans have contributed mightily to 
Illinois--and to our Nation. Chicago is home to the Polish American 
Congress, which encompasses 3,000 Polish organizations across the 
country, as well as the Polish Museum of America. The Polish-American 
community also has a large presence in the Illinois National Guard, 
which has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Polish Air 
Force.
  I am honored to reintroduce this resolution to grant posthumous 
honorary citizenship to GEN Casimir Pulaski, an American general who 
gave his life so that our Nation could be free. This resolution passed 
the Senate by unanimous consent in the 110th Congress and received 
broad support in the House of Representatives. I hope that this year we 
will be able to pass this resolution in both Chambers.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and the valor of the 
man whom we seek to honor. When we think of our Nation's struggle for 
freedom in its infancy, we must remember GEN Casimir Pulaski and his 
indelible contribution to our Nation's birth.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the joint 
resolution be read a third time and passed, the preamble be agreed to, 
the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, there be no intervening 
action or debate, and any statements relating to this measure be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The joint resolution (S.J. Res. 12) was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 12

       Whereas Casimir Pulaski was a Polish military officer who 
     fought on the side of the American colonists against the 
     British in the American Revolutionary War;
       Whereas Benjamin Franklin recommended that General George 
     Washington accept Casimir Pulaski as a volunteer in the 
     American Cavalry and said that Pulaski was ``renowned 
     throughout Europe for the courage and bravery he displayed in 
     defense of his country's freedom'';
       Whereas, after arriving in America, Casimir Pulaski wrote 
     to General Washington, ``I came here, where freedom is being

[[Page S2646]]

     defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.'';
       Whereas the first military engagement of Casimir Pulaski 
     with the British was on September 11, 1777, at the Battle of 
     Brandywine, and his courageous charge in this engagement 
     averted a disastrous defeat of the American Cavalry and saved 
     the life of George Washington;
       Whereas, on September 15, 1777, George Washington elevated 
     Casimir Pulaski to the rank of Brigadier General of the 
     American Cavalry;
       Whereas Casimir Pulaski formed the Pulaski Cavalry Legion, 
     and in February 1779, this legion ejected the British 
     occupiers from Charleston, South Carolina;
       Whereas, in October 1779, Casimir Pulaski mounted an 
     assault against British forces in Savannah, Georgia;
       Whereas, on the morning of October 9, 1779, Casimir Pulaski 
     was mortally wounded and was taken aboard the American ship 
     USS Wasp, where he died at sea on October 11, 1779;
       Whereas, before the end of 1779, the Continental Congress 
     resolved that a monument should be erected in honor of 
     Casimir Pulaski;
       Whereas, in 1825, General Lafayette laid the cornerstone 
     for the Casimir Pulaski monument in Savannah, Georgia; and
       Whereas, in 1929, Congress passed a resolution recognizing 
     October 11 of each year as Pulaski Day in the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That Casimir 
     Pulaski is proclaimed to be an honorary citizen of the United 
     States posthumously.

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