Revolutionary war hero Casimir Pulaski once wrote to George Washington: “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.''

After coming from Poland, where he carried a strong reputation as a fighter for freedom, to join the colonists in the Revolutionary War, Pulaski literally did so. After saving Washington’s life in the Battle of Brandywine, Pulaski lost his own in the Battle of Savannah.

In 2009, I was honored to cosponsor, and then join my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass, H. J. Res. 26, which deemed this hero of the American Revolution posthumous United States citizenship.

Earlier this month, I was proud to join Pulaski Association President Brian Rusk, Congresswoman Kathy Hochuk, Judge Pietruszka, Cheektowaga Supervisor Mary Holtz and descendents of General Casimir Pulaski on Saturday, July 9 to unveil an official portrait of General Pulaski in the first floor Admissions Area of the VA Western New York Healthcare System.

And this past Sunday, July 17, Western New Yorkers continued to celebrate General Pulaski’s legacy as a selfless patriot to two nations at the Polish festival and General Pulaski Day Parade in the Town of Cheektowaga.

As a member of the Congressional Poland Caucus, I am proud to join the 9 million Polish Americans nationwide and the 160,000 Western New Yorkers with Polish ancestry, in honoring General Pulaski, the “Father of the American Cavalry.”