Brooklyn Borough President

BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ CELEBRATES 50 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PULASKI BRIDGE

Photographs by Kathryn Kirk

In photo: Vice-Consul of the Republic of Poland in New York Marek Skulimowski, Polish & Slavic Center President Bozena Kaminski, DOT Deputy Commissioner and Chief Bridge Officer Henry Perahia, Assemblymember Joseph Lentol, Polish American Congress President Frank Milewski, Borough President Marty Markowitz, DOT Acting Borough Commissioner Lori Ardito, Polish American Congress Chairperson Chet Szarejko, and Polish American Congress Secretary Richard Brzozowski.

New Banners Honor Bridge’s Golden Anniversary

On Wednesday, October 27, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblymember Joseph Lentol, the Polish American Congress and New York City Department of Transportation marked the 50 th Anniversary of the Pulaski Bridge. The Pulaski Bridge connects Brooklyn’s Greenpoint, the Polish capital of America, to Queens. Banners were presented, proclaiming the bridge’s golden anniversary.

“Today we commemorate the 50 th Anniversary of the Pulaski Bridge,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz. “The Pulaski Bridge is not only the gateway to Brooklyn, but to Greenpoint, the Polish capital of America. Queens got lucky when this bridge was built half-a-century ago because the residents of our eastern suburb got even easier access to the promised land: Brooklyn.”

In 1954, the Pulaski Bridge replaced the old wooden Manhattan Avenue Bridge. The bridge is named after General Casimir Pulaski, the Polish cavalry officer who offered his personal services to General George Washington in America’s War of Independence. General Pulaski was killed in 1779 in the Battle of Savannah, and is considered the most prominent foreigner to die for the cause of American liberty.

After the banners are presented, President Markowitz addressed the Polish American community and issued Brooklyn’s proclamation honoring the event at the Polish & Slavic Center at 176 Java Street.