Casimir Pulaski
For some of the people in The Prairie State today is a holiday. Honestly, it is probably unlikely that a lot of people in IL know what today is though. Today is
Casimir Pulaski Day. And the holiday is celebrated in Chicago and Cook County.
If you aren’t familiar with the holiday then let me explain.
On March 1st of each year Casimir Pulaski Day is celebrated. It is in remembrance of the Polish-born cavalry man that was fatally wounded in the Revolutionary War.
Casimir Pulaski fought along side other heroes including: the Marquis de Lafayefte, Thomas Paine, Giuseppe Garibaldi and Thaddeus Kosciuszko a fellow Polish Soldier. Casimir lost is life in the battle of Savannah in 1779, becoming a symol of the valiant struggle to fight tyranny where ever it is in the world.
What that means today is that public schools in Chicago and many of the outer lying suburbs will be closed today. Public libraries, as well as all of the city offices will likewise be closed today. Since the holiday is only for the Chicago and Cook County area both federal and state offices will still be open.
Ironically the Post Office will not be taking a holiday today so the mail will be delivered as normal. However, the garbage will not be collected today. Go figure.
He has even inspired the song Casimir Pulaski Day. The song was written by Sufjan Stevens and is off the album Illinois.
For everyone that would like the lyrics here they are.
Casimir Pulaski Day Lyrics
Golden rod and the 4-H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone
Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car to the Navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry
In the morning through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulder blade
I could see what you were reading
Oh the glory that the lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth
Tuesday night at the bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens
I remember at Michael’s house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse
In the morning at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared
Oh the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you
Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I find the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of your mother
On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom
In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window
In the morning in the winter shade
On the first of March on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing
Oh the glory that the lord has made
And the complications when I see his face
In the morning in the window
Oh the glory when he took our place
But he took my shoulders and he shook my face
And he takes and he takes and he takes
great post as usual!
hey, keep posting stuff like this i really like it