General Pulaski Memorial Day

General Pulaski Memorial Day
Observed by	United States
Type	National Holiday
Date	October 11
Next time	October 11, 2024(2024-10-11)
Frequency	annual
Related to	Casimir Pulaski Day

General Pulaski Memorial Dayis aUnited Statespublic holidayin honor ofGeneralKazimierz Pułaski(spelled Casimir Pulaski in English), aPolishhero of theAmerican Revolution.This holiday is held every year on October 11 byPresidential Proclamation,to commemorate his death from wounds suffered at thesiege of Savannahon October 9, 1779, and to honor the heritage ofPolish Americans.The observance was established in 1929 when Congress passed a resolution (Public Resolution 16 of 1929) designating October 11 as General Pulaski Memorial Day. Every President has issued a proclamation for the observance annually since (except in 1930).

This is a separate holiday from the regional holiday in the Chicago area titledCasimir Pulaski Daythat commemorates Pulaski's birth on March 4, 1746.

Regional celebrations

New York Cityhas an annualPulaski Day ParadeandGrand Rapids, MichiganholdsPulaski Daysat this time. Some areas with largePolish-Americanpopulations instead celebrateCasimir Pulaski Dayon the first Monday of every March, marking Pulaski's March 4, 1746 birth.Wisconsin,Illinois,KentuckyandIndianahave state recognition of this holiday, which is particularly popular inChicagoandMilwaukee.

General Pulaski's Day is a holiday recognized by theCommonwealth of Kentucky,United States, "in commemoration of the death of revolutionary General Casimir Pulaski". General Pulaski's Day is observed on October 11 of every year in Kentucky. General Pulaski's Day was created by a statute enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly sometime prior to 1942.

History of the battle and Pulaski's role

Kazimierz Pulaski,byJan Styka

Thesiege of Savannahwas an encounter of the American Revolutionary War in 1779. The year before, the city ofSavannah, Georgiahad been captured by a British expeditionary corps underLieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell.The siege itself consisted of a joint Franco-American attempt to retake Savannah from September 16, 1779, to October 18, 1779. On October 9, 1779, a major assault against the British siege works failed. During the attack, General Kazimierz Pułaski, leading the cavalry, was mortally wounded. With the failure of the joint American-French attack, the siege failed, and the British remained in control of Georgia until July 1782, close to the end of the war.

The battle is much remembered in Haitian history; the Fontages Legion, consisting of over 500 gens de couleur—free men of color from Saint-Domingue—fought on the French side.Henri Christophe,who later became king of independentHaiti,is thought to have been among these troops.

In 2005 archaeologists with the Coastal Heritage Society and the LAMAR Institute discovered portions of the British fortifications at Spring Hill. The brunt of the combined French and American attack on October 9, 1779, was focused at that point. The find represents the first tangible remains of the battlefield. In 2008 the CHS/LAMAR Institute archaeology team discovered another segment of the British fortifications in Madison Square.

Observances

PresidentGeorge W. Bushissued apresidential proclamationon October 10, 2002, observing the day.PresidentBarack Obamaissued the observance on October 8, 2010.On October 10, 2017, PresidentDonald Trumpproclaimed the day.