Posted on 11/06/2009 6:39:18 PM PST by Saije
Finally, Gen. Casimir Pulaski became an American, 230 years after the Polish nobleman died in Georgia fighting for what became the United States.
President Barack Obama signed a joint resolution today of the Senate and the House of Representatives that made Pulaski an honorary citizen.
Pulaski's contribution to the Americans' effort to leave the British Empire began with a flourish. He wrote a letter to Gen. George Washington, the Revolution's leader, with the declaration: "I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it."
Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, whose home city of Cleveland, Ohio, has many citizens of Polish extraction, had been pushing for the honorary citizenship since 2005.
"Pulaski made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, and he deserves nothing but the highest honor and recognition for his service," Kucinich said then.
Washington had heard of the young Pole from Benjamin Franklin, who told of Pulaski's exploits that had made him "renowned throughout Europe for the courage and bravery he displayed in defense of his country's freedom."
The revolutionaries' top general let the young nobleman join the brash fight against the European superpower, and Pulaski made a name for himself as a skilled horseman, eventually to be known as the "father of the American cavalry."
He died before the British were driven away. In October 1779, he led a cavalry assault to save the important southern port of Savannah, was wounded and taken aboard the American ship USS Wasp. He died at sea two days later.
(Excerpt) Read more at chronicle.augusta.com ...
The 1st CAV is based at Fort Hood and the General would be pleased to know, I hope, that there are many there who serve this cause even today.
Ping.
I hope they didn’t spend too much time on something so stupid and useless. Then again I hope it took months.
“I hope they didn’t spend too much time on something so stupid and useless.”
I don’t think it’s stupid or useless to recognize those who fought for our freedom.
But I understand your sentiment generally, that the more Congress and the President engage in this sort of thing, the less time they’ll have to do real harm. But I fear they will find the time for that anyway.
OR were that many different Pulaskis here, whom said counties were named for?
They must have told Obama that Pulaski was a great Kenyan warrior for Hamas.
Making someone an honorary US citizen 230 years after they died is really useful for him, how will his afterlife change one bit? Did he even desire to be a US citizen?
No different than naming ships for people who lived 200 yrs ago.
It is an honor
Giving the ship to the dead person would be a closer analogy. Here Mr. Pulaski, have an Aegis Cruiser.
“Making someone an honorary US citizen 230 years after they died is really useful for him, how will his afterlife change one bit? Did he even desire to be a US citizen?”
I think it’s more about us recognizing his contribution to creating a country that could then make him a citizen. Which one would think he’d be proud to accept seeing as how he died trying to make it all happen.
As to his afterlife? Don’t really know about that but...”What we do in life echoes in eternity.” “Gladiator)
Every kid in Illinois knows about Pulaski, because it’s an official school holiday!
I didn’t say we could recognize or honor a person, awarding something to them who is centuries dead is just a little odd to me. Rename New York after him for all I care, but making him a citizen is a little like Mormons baptizing people long after they died.
indeed.
Next time you’re in Savannah, drop in on Fort Pulaski—it’s worth a visit—and, especially if it’s spring and the flowers are blooming, don’t miss Monterey Square, one of the nation’s beauty spots, and the monument to Casimir Pulaski in the center of the square. And BTW, Mikve Israel, one of the nation’s oldest synagogues, faces the square. It’s another gorgeous thing. And from the Pulaski monument, gaze south on Bull Street at the beautiful Forsythe Park Fountain in the distance.
Democrats did something good and honorable. Wow. The exception really does prove the rule!
He better buy a $ 15,0000 health care policy or he’s going to jail . If he was an illegal he’d be home free !
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Thanks hennie pennie. Bravo! |
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George Washington was promoted from the rank of Lieutenant General to the rank of “General of the Armies of the United States” in January 1976 (with a date of rank from 4 July 1976) to ensure that he will always be the Army’s highest ranked officer.
I don’t think he cares. but it is symbolically important.
Pulaski is model of a true "American" in the finest sense of the word in heart, soul and deed
This will be probably the only time I will 100% support Dennis Kucinich on anything....
(more then I can say for Dennis Kucinich)
yitbos
Baltimore, Maryland Monument to our new citizen. Commissioned in 1929 and dedicated in 1951.
President Barack Obama signed a joint resolution today of the Senate and the House of Representatives that made Pulaski an honorary citizen.
I was surprised to learn that this had not been done long ago, so let me say that this is long overdue. But I can't help thinking that Obama did this as a sop to Poland. Frankly, I think the Poles would prefer to have a more robust defense commitment from Obama. But they aren't going to get that, so they'll have to be happy with a presidential proclamation.
Seconded.
And also don't forget "Wet Willies". Excellent frozen 151 bacardi drinks.
Seconded.
John J. Pershing actually held the rank of “General of the Armies”, the same rank that Gen. Washington was elevated to in 1976. When the 5-star ranks (Gen. of the Army / Fleet Admiral) were created for WW2 they were considered to be one grade below. IOWs, Pershing & Washington are in effect 6-star generals. Note: No insignia were ever developed. Pershing never wore more than 4 stars in any picture that I ever saw.
An excellent description of California.
There are now so many laws on the books that no one can observe them, enforce them, or objectively interpret them (which has been the idea all along). This gives the Enforcers carte blanche to enforce them selectively. If they like you, they let you off. If they don't, you're Jean Valjean.
Meanwhile California citizens spend lots of time evading the laws, reporting one another for infractions of the law, and feeling good because there's another law on the books to solve some problem or other (nevermind that it does no such thing--it's the LAW).
BTW, I know this is changing the subject, but you know that law in Santa Cruz that outlaws hate--how's that working?
Oh yeah! And at Stinson Beach--have all those "No Dogs Allowed" signs managed to keep any dogs off the beach yet?
Yes. And when they start talking about how they "want to give back"--reach for the panic button (or the oubliette button, if you've got one).
It’s been long past time to “throw the tea in the harbor”.
General of the Armies of the United States is a distinct rank above the ranks of General of the Armies and General of the Army. It was created to insure that George Washington will always outrank Grant, Sherman, Pershing, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Marshall, Arnold and Bradley and all other officers of the US Army.
> Making someone an honorary US citizen 230 years after they died is really useful for him, how will his afterlife change one bit? Did he even desire to be a US citizen?
Gotta disagree, mate. Speaking personally, I would far prefer to be made an honorary US Citizen than to receive a Knighthood, any day of the week. Whether these honors be awarded posthumously or no.
There would be very, very few honors that could trump being given honorary US Citizenship.
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