Casimir Pulaski

Casimir Pulaski

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