Here in the United States, today we are celebrating Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, a group of “rabble-rousers” signed and adopted the Declaration of Indpendence, asserting the indpendence of the 13 American colonies from Britain. That’s when it all started. A war later, and the first constitution in the world (just a handful of months before the second in Poland) and a new country was born.
Yet when those events took place long ago, none of my ancestors were a part of it. All of my ancestors are from Poland and central Europe, and they only came to this country in the last decades of the 19th century and first decade of the 20th century. But why did they come to the United States of America? They came for freedom and a chance to escape the poverty and servitude back home. They came for a chance to make a better life here than they had there. And you know what, they succeeded–wildly! And Polish people were a part of this Independence as well. Kazimierz Pułaski (Casimir Pulaski) gave his life during the revolutionary war, and is often called the “father of American cavalry. And Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (Thaddeus Kosciuszko) was known as one of the best engineers in the revolutionary war and later given many accolades and even a land grant by Congress in recognition for his service.
So today, I celebrate with all Americans, a tribute to the brave people who stood up to tyranny hundreds of years ago, and helped start the USA on its path to becoming the greatest country in the world. God Bless America! And, thank you, America, for giving my ancestors hope and freedom.
