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Pulaski’s Birthday In Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia – March 1, 2014.  This year’s Pulaski Birthday Commemoration was held in Monterey Square, location of a tall marble column that memorializes the hero of two nations.  Ceremonies began with the customary greeting to friends and visitors delivered by Edward Krolikowski, chairman of the Savannah General Pulaski Committee of the American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC). Sounds of fife and drum were heard in a street adjacent to the square, soon there appeared a color guard composed of the Knights of Columbus in full regalia carrying flags of the United States, Poland and the State of Georgia. Along with them, providing the marching music were members of the Costal Heritage Society, dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms complete with muskets. They were followed by wreath carriers from the committee. The national anthems of Poland and the United States were sung to the accompaniment of a trumpeter.  This was followed by topical remarks from Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson and State Representative Ron Stephens.

IMG_1282forweb  An invocation by Fr. Adam Kasela preceded a ceremonial laying of wreaths from the Poles in America Foundation and the American Council for Polish Culture whose board members had scheduled their annual Spring Meeting in Savannah to be present at the ceremony.  Also present was the eminent Polish-American historian, founder of the Poles in America Foundation, Edward Pinkowski. He was accompanied by his son Jack and Monica Pinkowski.  Edward Pinkowski provided the inspiration for this Pulaski Birthday observance, and the Poles in America foundation was a major sponsor of the ceremony. After the wreaths were placed the musket team fired a memorial salute. Closing remarks were delivered by committee treasurer Andrew Boguszewski. Afterwards the out-of-town visitors had an opportunity to meet Mayor Jackson and State Representative Stephens.

In photo above right: (standing, l. to r.) Raymond Glembocki, Robert Dutka, Peter Obst, Savannah Pulaski Committee Chairman Edward Krolikowski and Camille Krolikowski, Robert Synakowski (sitting, l. to r.) historian Edward Pinkowski, Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson, Henrietta Nowakowski.

A post-event lunch was held at the Johnny Harris banquet facility which gave the ACPC board members the opportunity to become acquainted with the local group of members who worked so hard to make the event a success. During the lunch, Frank Sulkowski, Sports Director at WJCL TV in Savannah, delivered an interesting address that spotlighted individuals of Polish background in American sports. Mr. Pinkowski spoke about his research into the life of Casimir Pulaski.

DSCN9255forweb  It should be remembered that Pulaski was born on March 6, 1745 as indicated by records at the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw where the baptism took place. These were discovered by Sławomir Górzyński in 1992 and later incorporated into an updated entry for Pulaski in the Polski  Słownik  Biograficzny, an official source for biographical sketches of famous Poles.

In photo: (l. to r.) State Representative Ron Stevens, Jack and Monica Pinkowski

The Poles in America Foundation (www.poles.org) and the American Council for Polish Culture invite interested parties to view additional information presented on their respective websites. (www.polishcultureacpc.org)

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In photo on right: Edward Krolikowski, at podium, greets the assembled friends and guests

 

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