Casimir Pulaski Day in Chicago

  You know you're in Chicago when you're celebrating Casimir Pulaski Day!  Casimir Pulaski Day is a holiday observed in Illinois, mainly in areas with large Polish populations like Chicago.  It is also observed in public schools in Wisconsin.  In Chicago, it is commemorated at the Polish Museum of America (984 N. Milwaukee), where city and state officials pay tribute to the Polish Community. 
  A little background history....Casimir Pulaski lived from 1745-1779 and was born near Warsaw, Poland.  In Poland, he became a skilled military commander where he fought Russian forces for many years.  In 1771, he was accused of trying to organize an attempt to take the King of Poland hostage.  He fled the country but was not welcome in any European state during that time.  He moved illegally to France where he was recruited by Lafayette (general in the American Revolution) and Benjamin Franklin to serve in America. 
George Washington accepted him as a volunteer in the American cavalry where he was promoted and eventually became known as the "father of American cavalry".  There are many parks and roadways named after Casimir Pulaski throughout the United States.