The 2023 General Casimir Pulaski Monument ceremony took place in Fall River, Massachusetts, honoring General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish Patriot and "father of the American Cavalry" who fought and died in the American Revolutionary War. The event was hosted by Cliff Nich, a recently retired Coast Guard veteran, who took over the role from the late Richard Urban, a long-time organizer of Polish community events. The ceremony included a presentation of colors, an opening prayer by Father Rob, the national anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Jim, the new president of Rolling Thunder Mass chapter 2. Key speakers included Mayor Paul Coogan, State Representative Alan Sylvia, City Council Veterans Liaison Linda Pereira, and City Councilor Andrew Roso. They emphasized the importance of honoring Pulaski's sacrifice, maintaining Polish traditions, and remembering Richard Urban's dedication to the Polish community and monuments. Cliff Nich provided historical context on General Pulaski Memorial Day, established by Congress in 1929 to recognize Pulaski's contributions. The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence for Richard Urban, a closing prayer by Father Rob, the playing of Taps, and the traditional release of doves by Paula and Bill Dearis, who have performed this act for over 20 years. The Vietnam Veterans Association of Fall River Honor Guard also provided services.
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Council
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i' like to thank everybody for coming and I welcome you here to General Casmir palaski Monument ceremony 2023 at this time we'll present the
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0:43very good i' like to introduce everyone here to the host of this event who just two weeks ago agreed to carry on for Mr Urban and I like to introduce cliff nich Cliff is going to uh you know be the rising star coming up out of the veterans community he just retired from the N uh the Coast Guard in August and here he is um opening prayer father Rob gentlemen uncover let us
1:26pray Lord God on this day we pause and honor a great polish Patriot and general Kashmir palaski one who fought sacrificed and lived for freedom and human rights We Gather this day at the monument honoring this great General the father of the American Calvary we pay tribute to one who fought for the freedom of our American Nation in the Revolutionary War and died from wounds after being shot at the Battle of
1:58Savannah and his life he also fought for independence and freedom in his homeland of Poland against Russian aggression may we be inspired by his efforts and continue to work Advocate and sacrifice for democracy freedom justice and the rights of all in our world this we ask in your holy name amen thank you follow at this time I'd ask everyone to look at present yourselves to the flag for the national
2:45anthem can you see by the DA's early light what sooud we H at the T is last Ging Christ and Christ through the of the for the we for so G the RO is the bursting in he Pro through the night that our P will s us that star the of
3:55and thank you now we're going would uh Jim would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all see I got Jim he's always shop he's on his he's on the ball Jim happens to be the new new president of Rolling
4:29Thunder Mass chapter 2 um at this time I'd like to ask the honorable mayor kougan to uh come up say a few words please um thank you Charlie uh this celebration of Casmir paly's life is a tradition in the city of Fall River and we acknowledge that he gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom in our country he came from Europe to to come over here to fight for us to live a better life as we
5:03are still doing today we honor him every year as I said it's a tradition and I'm glad to see such a nice crowd here today and thank you all very very much for coming out thank you ma'am um if I haven't introduced myself yet I'm Charlie denme I am the uh commander of the for War veterans Council and it's an honor to be here today next I'd like to ask to say a few
5:29words words his state representative and Marine Alan Sylvia thank you Commander thank you you know uh for about the last 12 years at least we've been coming here we we we miss Richard you know I never thought I'd say that but we we missed Richard and uh he was uh committed to uh not only the palasi but uh the Polish Veterans Memorial on pth Avenue also uh kusco I know I say that wrong
6:03Kus and uh so it's very difficult to uh not think of him you know none of us here ever met uh General palaski but we knew Richard he uh he he really promoted the history of his culture and um a great Patriot um when General palaski came he came to a country that was in total disarray the world was a mess well things haven't changed we're in uh total disarray all
6:39over the world and uh uh it's sad to think about that what's extremely important though about what we do here every year and especially those of of the Polish background um your ethnicity your traditions and Customs are important important to maintain and if you notice as some of the oldtimers of course now you are the oldtimers but as some of the old time is left we we lose those
7:10traditions we we seem to forget those things and um that saddens me so it's very important that we uphold uh our Traditions especially uh in celebrating polish war hero such as palaski thank you all uh for being here and listening to me as I rant and go on thanks very much thank you can't compete with that next I'd like to ask to come up here is uh ARA veterans leaz on city
7:46council Linda Pereira and uh City councelor Andrew Roso please come up and say a few words I don't know know about Allan with 12 years but I've been coming here for more years than that I think it first started when we had the church who that is no longer there um I just have to say to Cliff I am so happy that you have you know decided to continue this and be a
8:16part of it and I know that that example comes from your mom and dad who have come to for River and have been an intrical part of our community doing as much as they can so when they say the Apple doesn't fall from far from the tree it sure doesn't so I'm very happy that you do that and all I can do is is think today that Richard is looking from
8:37above and saying okay now you have to say this you have to say that he's making sure we all do the right thing because he's so honored his polish background with all of The Monuments so um to Richard I say I hope that we are all doing a good job and that your memory lasts and what you wanted to do for the Polish Community will continue thank you all for coming it's really
9:02nice to see a good crowd ahead you said what you needed to say I'm good thank you thank you everybody um at this time uh I like to introduce our host um Cliff nich thank you Charlie sorry one
9:42moment General plaski Memorial Day on October 11th honors a Polish hero of the American Revolution today is set aside in the United States to recognize Kashmir palaski a Polish immigrant who over two centuries ago joined the Continental Army and soon Rose to the rank of Brigadier General alongside General George Washington he built a legacy that included raising an arm of the colonial military as yet undeveloped
10:15the calvalry as such he has become known as the father of American calvalry while only 15 years old plaski earned battle experience when his homeland of Poland and Russia went to war he later immigrated to the British colonies after meeting Benjamin Franklin in Paris it was pl's experience on the battlefield and his perseverance that gained General Washington's trust however glaski would not live to
10:47see the end of the war injured in battle he died from wounds suffered at the siege of Savannah on October 9th 1779 General palaski died two days later on October 11th this day also honors polish immigrants and their descendants across the country Generations have contributed to the founding of the United States and its continued growth whether through service in the armed forces or skilled
11:17labor Innovation or the Arts their enduring Heritage lives on in 1929 Congress passed a resolution designating October 11th as general palaski Memorial Day each year a new presidential Proclamation renews the
11:42resolution good job buddy so as Charlie said I am Cliff N kovich I am one of fall River's newest uh veterans very happy to be back and I'm also uh polish and I'm very uh honored that about two weeks ago Charlie asked me to uh come in and step in for Mr Urban and I would like to acknowledge Him and have a uh moment of silence in his memory
12:27today thank you thank you all for coming and celebrating and remembering General Blas excellent well if that doesn't say it all and uh I could just imagine Mr Urban looking down that young Cliff here and uh picking up the banner and running with it I know we in the veterans community welcome and we encourage Young Veterans to come in take a seat and uh continue to serve your community all right at this time we're
13:12going to ask father Rob uh to say our closing prayer let us pray Lord God we thank you for this time for the lessons of this day as we honor the great polish patriot who gave his life in service of our country we also pause and honor all those who gave their lives in service of our country remember those veterans who have passed from this life especially way this year we
13:37remember our brother Richard who did so much for our for Community we ask your blessings upon all of them we also ask you to be INSP that we be inspired by their efforts to continue to work for freedom justice Liberty and democracy throughout our world this we ask in your holy name amen thank you before we have Taps I'd like to uh thank uh and introduce the Vietnam veterans association of for honor God
14:09who's came here today to uh provide us with their uh their services and I would also like to thank uh Paula and Bill dearis for always being uh uh involved in the community and releasing these dobes which they've been doing here for over 20 years and we thank them for that but at this time we'll have TAPS in releasing of the doves step forward the person release a dove a
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