The 86th Pulaski Day Parade in Philadelphia included hundreds of marchers from Polish American churches, cultural organizations, folk dance and song groups, and Polish language schools.
Alicja Iwaniwucz (from left), 7; and sisters Julia Guzdziol, 10 and Emilia Guzdziol, 8, lead their families and classmates from the Polish school at Saint Hedwig church in Trenton, in the 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway October 6, 2019.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
The 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Parkway on Sunday celebrated the history, culture and pride of the Polish American community in Philadelphia and honored Revolutionary War hero Gen. Casimir Pulaski.
Hundreds of Polish American members of churches, cultural organizations, folk dance and song groups, and Polish language schools marched.
The parade also marked the 411th year since Polish settlers first came to America. Invited to establish a glass industry in the colonies, the Polish craftsmen arrived in Jamestown, Va., in October 1608 — 12 years before the pilgrims. They opened a glassblowing shop, which became the first American industry to produce commercial items exported from America to Europe.
Gen. Pulaski, considered the father of the U.S. cavalry, was born in Poland in 1745 and came to America to join the fight for independence. He was commissioned as a brigadier general and his cavalry first defended Minisink Island in the Delaware River, and Little Egg Harbor in New Jersey, before being dispatched to the South. On Oct. 9, 1779, during the Battle of Savannah, Pulaski was mortally wounded by a cannon blast while charging into battle on horseback.
The Krzton family of Cherry Hill pause for a photo on their way to march in the 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway October 6, 2019. Mom and dad are Erik and Agnes. Kids are Dominik, 12; and Olivia, 6, all with the St. Adalbert parish of Port Richmond.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Marching in the parade, Father Joe Zingaro with St. John Cantius church in Bridesburg walks over to complement the flowered headdress worn by parishioner Alex Kurpaska, 16, of Port Richmond. It was made by her mother, Barbara Kurpaska (left) there at the parade with dad, Chris Kurpaska (right).Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
The Polish American String Band (a Mummers tradition since 1933) based out of Port Richmond pauses while marching and performing in the 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway October 6, 2019.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Members of the Polish Eagles Sports Club of Port Richmond ride in a truck in the parade.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Henry Andrzejczuk, driving the giant icon painting of Our Lady of Czestochowa for the school in Doylestown, gets ready to set off in the 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway October 6, 2019.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
The Jelski Family String Ensemble performs on their float in the parade.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Marcin Niemiec takes a picture of Miss PKM Iryna Famenka in front of the Swann Memorial Fountain in Logan Square after they marched in the parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway the PKM Polish Folk Dance Ensemble is part of Polskie Kolko Miedzykolegialne -- The Polish Intercollegiate Club of Philadelphia -- a Polish social, educational, and cultural organization established in 1915.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Danuta Rodrigue with the Polish American Heritage Association and her neighbor Lucky Cu (right) look over a 1954 Packard Clipper convertible before the start of the parade.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Milo Pieta, 5, watches the parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway with her family from the St. John Cantius Parish in Bridesburg.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Members of the Polish Eagles Sports Club of Port Richmond ride in their truck in the 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway October 6, 2019.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Five year-old Cecilia Harta of Media sits on her father Jose Harta's shoulder as they watch the parade. They belong to the St. Adalbert parish in Port Richmond.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Alicja Iwaniwucz (from left), 7; and sisters Julia Guzdziol, 10 and Emilia Guzdziol, 8, lead their families and classmates from the Polish school at Saint Hedwig church in Trenton in the parade.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Mirek Woszczynski of Port Richmond wears his Polish-American colors as he watches the parade.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Members of Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego -- the Polish Scouting Organization of Bridesburg and Port Richmond -- march together in the parade.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
Spectators, dignitaries, and participants from different Polish American groups join together for the Polonez, a traditional celebratory folk dance, at the finale of the 86th annual Pulaski Day Parade on the Parkway.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer
