There Is Now an Adam Yauch Park: And the Stories Behind the Names of 10 Other Brooklyn Places.
Pulaski Bridge
The Pulaski Bridge connects Greenpoint to Long Island City, and was named in honor of Kazimierz Pulaski (1745-1779) in tribute to Greenpoint’s considerable Polish population. But also because Kazimierz Pulaski was an incredible bad ass who helped America pull out a win in the Revolutionary War. Pulaski was born a Polish nobleman and fought the Russians for freedom in his birth country before being driven into exile. And just where did he escape? To America! Which was not, at the time, “America” yet. No, instead, it was the colonies which were engaged in war with the British. Pulaski was welcomed by no less a personage than Benjamin Franklin, who thought Pulaski could get shit done over here. Pulaski was into the idea and said, “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.” Well, sadly, die for it he did. But before that happened, he gained notoriety for being an incredibly effective (if sometimes difficult to deal with) military leader. Pulaski is also one of only seven people to be granted honorary American citizenship. And this bridge. He also had this bridge named after him.*
*In fact, it’s not just this bridge. Pulaski is thought to be one of the most honored and celebrated people worldwide and has literally hundreds of things named after him. Hundreds!