[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9347 of October 9, 2015

General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Today, our Nation honors the legacy of Brigadier General Casimir
Pulaski, a Polish-born hero of the American Revolutionary War who gave
his life to defend our country in its nascence. Drawn to fight by the
basic premise that people have the right to determine their own
destinies, he came here to help us shape ours. In the struggle for
independence, he stood with the brave soldiers of the Continental Army
and his sacrifices helped lay the foundation for the strong relationship
between Poland and the United States today.
Born into a family determined to see a free and sovereign Poland,
Pulaski demonstrated his courage and leadership abilities from an early
age. Drawing on his experiences, he recognized the same yearning for
freedom on display across the Atlantic in the American Revolution. Upon
moving to France, he met Benjamin Franklin--who recognized his potential
and recommended him to General George Washington, and in 1777, he
embarked on a journey to help the Colonies preserve the same ideals of
liberty and self-determination he fought for in his homeland.
While serving, Pulaski's zeal for the American cause impressed his
fellow soldiers--including Washington, whose life he saved. He earned
the rank of Brigadier General and an appointment to be ``Commander of
the Horse.'' The cavalry unit he formed was in many ways reflective of
our Nation today, comprised of volunteers of many backgrounds and
beliefs and united in their faith in the unalienable rights of a free
and independent society. Fearless until his death on October 11, 1779,
Casimir Pulaski symbolizes an enduring American truth: that we owe

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our independence to brave men and women, spanning multiple generations,
devoted to a cause greater than their own.
On General Pulaski Memorial Day, we celebrate the ideals and rights for
which Pulaski fought and gave his life. We also celebrate all Polish-
Americans who proudly preserve their culture in towns and cities
throughout our Nation, enriching our society and contributing to our
shared success. On this day, let us recognize the strong and enduring
relationship between Poland and the United States, and let us renew our
commitment to realizing the shared vision of our democracies: forging a
world that is free and at peace.
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, 2015, 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 ninth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA