WITH PULASKI IN SAVANNAH
USA Travel
by Jeffrey R. Portko, Esq.
It is the greatest
sacrifice, said the Lord, to
lay dawn one's life for
another. It is also patriotic,
it is said, to give one's life
for one's country. Here is a
soldier who gave his life for
our country, which was not
his, but America has since
adopted him as one of our
own! One of the first great
heroes of the American
Revolutionary War was Brigadier General Casimir
Pulaski, born in 1745 in Warka, Poland. He was
invited to the United States to form the first United
States Cavalry Brigade and join us in fighting for our
independence. His reputation as a military strategist
in Poland was brilliant, but he had to flee Warka for
his life because he was a revolutionary leader.
As you know, on October 11, 1779, Count Pulaski
died from mortal wounds he suffered in the siege of
Savannah, while leading a charge against the British
artillery. Perhaps what you don't know is how revered
and honored General Pulaski is in Savannah and in
the entire state of Georgia. I was amazed that people
actually knew who he was when I feigned ignorance
of him.
Back in 1997, I visited the Pulaski Museum in
Warka (which is housed in his home on his father's
Manor House Estate) and the grave of Pulaski's
closest known realtive near there, which had just
been reopened to exhume her body to examine and
compare DNA tests between them. I found out about
the restoration drive in Savannah, for which funds
were then being raised.
Ever since I served as the president of the Pulaski
Days Patriotic Committee many years ago, I have
always wanted to visit this historic site in Georgia
where Pulaski gave his life for us. I recently had the
opportunity to travel to Savannah and view the newly
- restored Pulaski Monument located downtown in
central Old Town Savannah at Monterey Square. It is
just fantastic, perhaps the most beautiful, classical
and magnificent monument to any war hero outside
of Washington, D.C. This expensive restoration to its
original elegance is a superb work of art. Standing 55
feet high, it is made of the purest white marble,
surmounted by a statue of " Lady Liberty" with her
arm raised, which is probably the inspiration for the
famous Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
For those who have seen the movie or read the
book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," one
knows that Mercer House is the main location for this
movie. It sits facing Monterey Square, the most
beautiful square in all of Savannah.
Savannah itself was spared destruction by General
Sherman during the Civil War. When he reached
Savannah at the end of his "March To the Sea"
through Georgia, routing the Confederate forces, he
decided because of the beauty of the city not to harm
it, and gave it to President Lincoln as a "Christmas
present," That is why Savannah remains the preeminent surviving example of antebellum Dixieland.
If you have the chance to travel there, I highly
encourage you to go South, because on October 9,
2001, the U.S. and Polish Governments will
rededicate the newly - restored Pulaski monument
and at some future point, re-inter the remains
originally found beneath it, which are thought to be
General Pulaski himself. These military re-mains
were exhumed from beneath the monument during
it's restoration. His re-burial will take place with full
military honors. The Monument itself was first
constructed in 1835 and at that time, the remains of a
Polish general, who had died upon a ship at sea after
being transferred there for treatment of his wounds
during the battle were buried at the Greenwood
Plantation in 1779. They were then transferred and
re-buried at the location of the Monument itself.
Markers at the monument indicate
that it is truly Pulaski. DNA tests to authenticate his
remains are still being performed, but the search for
relatively close or direct descendants has been
elusive.
Upon my visit to Savannah, I found the newly restored Pulaski monument to be an inspiring and
admirable edifice erected to the memory of this great
man, who should be a hero for all Polish Americans
and any lovers of liberty. In Savannah, there is also
another square named Pulaski Square, and there is
also a United States Fort Pulaski, located on the
ocean's shore, which is now a National Historic
Landmark. Fort Pulaski was constructed in part by
General Robert E. Lee, starting in 1829. Savannah
celebrates Pulaski Day as well, and this coming
Pulaski Day in Savannah will be especially
memorable.
Savannah is a very large seaport of special
importance, even today. It is the entrance to the
southern portion of the United States, and that is why
during the Revolution in 1778, the British recaptured
Savannah. American forces were determined to
retake it from the British. That is why, on October 9
one of the fiercest battles of the entire American
Revolution took place near the city limits. About
1,000 American, French, Haitian, Indian and Polish
forces were killed in about one hour, while the British
defenders of Savannah lost only about one hundred.
In the face of great odds against them and superior
fortifications, the Americans still courageously
attacked.
Not only is the impressive Pulaski Monument the
highlight of any tourist visit to Savannah, but Fort
Pulaski, located at the mouth of the Savannah River
on the Atlantic Ocean, is a remarkably well preserved example of 19th Century military
architecture, and provides fantastic views of the
Atlantic Ocean as well as the scenic Salt Marshes.
There are tours and historical markers throughout the
island upon which the fort is located, which is
approximately 15 miles east of downtown Savannah.
The entire area is beautifully preserved and kept in a
natural state.
Perhaps the Pulaski Day Patriotic Committee will
organize a bus trip to Savannah to enjoy this
remarkable city and the rededication of the famous
Pulaski Monument. Georgians everywhere, even in
2001, know who General Pulaski was.
They gave me a uniform and a constant response
to my question, "Who was this Gen. Pulaski?" They
would answer "Don't you know the Polish General
who came to liberate Georgia? He saved us from
further invasion!" I was told this, time and time again,
by every local I asked. Unfortunately, we here in
Grand Rapids ,who have our own Pulaski Monument
near Pulaski Square, have not done as much to
educate the general populace about the heroism and
the reasons why he and General Tadeusz
Kosciuszko came here to offer their services to the
colonies in their fight for independence.
So if you're near Savannah, Georgia, make a trip
to this wonderful city, to Tybee Island near the fort,
and the fort Pulaski National Monument itself.
Take pride in your historic roots, your Polish
heritage and the American freedoms you enjoy. Join
me in saying thanks to Generals Pulaski and
Kosciuszko, who came to America from Poland to
assist us under the command of General George
Washington.
Pay your respects to them this October during
national Polish Heritage Month by flying your Polish
flags proudly!
INFO: JEFF PORTKO,
phone 616-456-5353 or by fax
616-774-3964