With a strong Polish American presence in both the Ridgewood area and close ties to Greenpoint, just south of Long Island City, Councilman Robert Holden passed three resolutions in the City Council that will commemorate immigrants from Poland.
The first resolution will mark the day Poland won its independence 1918 near the end of World War I and make Nov. 11 an official holiday across the city.
“I spent much of my childhood with Polish-Americans living in Queens and have kept many close relationships with them to this day,” said Councilman Holden. “It is important that we honor the selfless contributions of the Polish throughout history, and I thank my fellow Council members for supporting these resolutions.”
Holden’s second resolution establishes Oct. 11 as Casimir Pulaski Day.
Pulaski was a freedom fighter in Poland who joined American forces during the Revolutionary War. The Pulaski Bridge which spans Newtown Creek linking Long Island City to the Polish quarter of Greenpoint carries his name.
Lastly, Tadeusz Kosciuszko Day will be marked on Oct. 15 for the Polish immigrant who also joined Continental forces in the Revolutionary War and served as its chief engineer.
Kosciuszko Bridge along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway is currently undergoing a rebuild with the southbound span progressing quickly.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Transportation cut the ribbon on what will be the northbound span of the bridge in May 2017 and demolished the old steel bridge viewed as an aging blemish.
Built in the 1950s, the old span of the Kosciuszko Bridge was demolished in October 2017.
Kosciuszko is remembered for dedicating the proceeds from his American estate to freeing and educating African-Americans after his death on Oct. 15, 1817.
