Senator William T. Stachowski marched as an ‘Honary Grand Marshall’ in the Pulaski Day Parade in Cheektowaga, in Sunday. Celebrating the military hero for both Poland and the United State, the Pulaski Day Parade brought out thousands with Polish ancestry, or with temporary Polish ancestry for the day.

Signs of Western New York’s rich Polish heritage were found up and down the parade route, Polish flags, and apparel were sported by participants and spectators alike. There was also plenty of polka bands performing.

“This is a salute Buffalo’s proud Polish history,” said Senator William T. Stachowski. “You can see from all the people that came out, that even if its only for the day, we are all proud to be Polish.”

There are an estimated 300,000 Polish-Americans in Western New York make it one of the largest American communities of that ethnicity.

The annual festivities are in honor of American Gen. Casimir Pulaski, a member of the Polish nobility who served with the rebel forces during the Revolutionary War. Gen. Pulaski is known as the father of the American cavalry.

Twenty-three local descendents of Pulaski marched in Sunday’s parade.