Happy Casimir Pulaski Day, everyone! In honor of the “Father of the American Cavalry,” and in light of the fact that my wife is one-quarter Polish, I’m taking the day off from blogging.
You know, every year at this time, people all over Illinois ask the same question: Who in the heck was Casimir Pulaski? I encourage you to read up on this Revolutionary War hero and find out why all the kiddies get the day off from school. Then when your friends ask you who Pulaski is, you can say, “are you kidding me? You’ve never heard of Casimir Pulaski? What, did you flunk fourth grade?” And then proceed to enthrall them with stories of Pulaski’s exciting exploits at the Battle of Brandywine and Warren’s Tavern!
Well, whatever you decide to do, enjoy Illinois’ only Polish-American holiday, and I’ll see you all tomorrow.
Damn, and here I always thought he was the guy who invented those overpriced sweaters.
There are a lot of Poles and Lithuanians in Illinois. The Chicago area was the primary destination for migrants from those two countries. For a long time, and probably still is, there were more Lithuanians in Illinois than in Lithuania.
Why include Lithuanians, well Poland and Lithuania were one country back in the 1770s.
A Polish guy at work celebrates “Mount Paluski Day” every year.
Is it still Polaski day, or am I having deja-vu?