Washington — Finally, Gen. Casimir Pulaski became an American citizen on Friday, 230 years after the Polish nobleman died fighting for the as-yet-unborn United States.
President Barack Obama signed a joint resolution of the Senate and the House that made Pulaski an honorary citizen.
Pulaski’s contribution to the American colonies’ effort to leave the British Empire began with a flourish. He wrote a letter to Gen. George Washington, the Revolution’s leader, with the declaration: “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.”
Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Polish-American, had been pushing for the honorary citizenship since 2005. He lives in Cleveland, which has many other citizens of Polish extraction.
“Pulaski made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, and he deserves nothing but the highest honor and recognition for his service,” Kucinich said then.
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