It is appropriate that as I participate in the March fourth FiftyFiftyOne protest surrounded by American and Ukrainian Flags, I receive a text from my Mom telling me that today is a day celebrating the feast of St Casimir.

I grew up in a Polish Neighborhood in Chicago where dawn was greeting by the raising of American Flags and dusk saw them lowered. This occurred every day, weather permitting. Polish was a common language in my neighborhood. It was spoken among my Grandparents, many other relatives and neighbors. Some speakers had come over from Poland and some were born here but all were proud Americans and saw no need to forget the language or traditions of Poland. I am thankful for that. I grew up in a house owned by my Grandparents and surrounded by Polish traditions and the occasional Polish conversation among older relatives. It was an idyllic upbringing.

My Grandfather and Father shared the same first name of Casimir. The name may sound strange to WASPy white bread America but Casimir is a fairly common Polish name¹ and there are many guys with that name in Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo…anywhere they make their own Polish Sausage and there is a bowling alley for every 50 Poles.

My Father did not bow before any man and when he saw a wrong he spoke up. When the NRA called the FBI “jack booted thugs” after WACO, my Father gave up his lifetime membership. When the Moose Lodge refused admittance to black members of his party, he renounced that membership. My father didn’t suffer fools lightly.

On a day when I am protesting the destructive and un-american policies of the current US Administration and their demonization of immigrants, minorities and basically anyone not a billionaire, it is appropriate that the protest falls on the Feast of St Casimir. My Father is in my heart and in my voice as I shout to the heavens.

Note: The Polish Eagle is displayed on its official crest. Interesting that we have the Eagle in common.

Note: The “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, also known as the Gadsden flag, was designed during the American Revolution by Christopher Gadsden as a symbol of American unity and resistance against oppression. We need American unity again.

More On Casimir Pulaski:

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/casimir-pulaski

More on my Dad:

https://thesoundoflaughter.com/finite-memories/: Representing Casimir

1. If you paid attention to your history lessons you may remember the name of Casimir Pulaski. He was a Polish Calvary officer that had fought for Poland against Russia and lent his service during the American Revolution. The Polish Calvary was a formidable fighting force and his help was priceless. He died in battle giving his life in America’s war for Independence. So thank Poland, France and many others that aided in our cause for Independence. Pulaski had said in a letter to congress “I came to hazard all for the freedom of America,” Think about that when an American President sides with Russia against Ukraine because Poland is Russia’s next target. Russia is trying reclaim all the land they had or stole during the Communist Era