The yearly march honours Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, the Polish hero of the American Revolutionary War who died at the Battle of Savannah in October 1779.
Honorary guests at this year’s Pulaski Day Parade included New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Poland’s Ambassador to the United Nations Krzysztof Szczerski, and 2021 Miss World Karolina Bielawska, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Marching in the white-and-red event, held under the motto: “Marching with Heart, Soul and Love of Polonia,” were Polish diaspora organisations, such as the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union and the Polish Slavic Center, youth bands, as well as students and teachers from educational institutions affiliated with the Association of Polish Schools in America (CPSD w Ameryce), officials said.
Also taking part in the Pulaski Day Parade were representatives of the clergy, war veterans and scouting organisations, as well as New York Police Department orchestras, reporters were told.
Much colour was added to the event by folk ensembles in traditional clothing and by beautiful, chariot-riding Polish girls, who represented various regions and institutions, the PAP news agency reported.
The flag and banner waving participants came not only from the city and state of New York, but also from the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Poland’s reigning Miss World said: “It’s wonderful that the Polish diaspora cultivates our traditions, our history in this way.”
“It’s beautiful that everyone is dressed in white-and-red, that they are proud to be Polish,” Karolina Bielawska told reporters, as quoted by the PAP news agency.
The annual Pulaski Day Parade has been held since 1937. The event traditionally starts with Holy Mass at New York City’s St Patrick’s Cathedral.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, tvp.info, pulaskiparade.org