Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 201 / Friday, October 17, 2014 / Presidential Documents 62299 

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. 


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62300 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 201 / Friday, October 17, 2014 / Presidential Documents 

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. 

[FR Doc. 2014–24847 

Filed 10–16–14; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F5 


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