For his unselfish service to our country, Kosciuszko received the official thanks of the Congress. The legacy of Kosciuszko, however, would be incomplete without mention of his return to his native Poland which had been partitioned among her more powerful neighbors, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Kosciuszko's love for his homeland led him to raise a citizen army in an unsuccessful revolt against the rule of Czarist Russia. Throughout the course of his life, Thaddeus Kosciuszko exhibited those quali ties of unselfish dedication and persevering courage which have remained as the bedrock of human freedom. Because of his commitment to liberty and justice, Kosciuszko abhorred the slave system that existed in our young Republic, and he willed his estate to the cause of purchasing the freedom of enslaved Blacks in America. Thomas Jefferson, himself no stranger in opposition to oppression and tyranny, wrote of Kosciuszko, "He was as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known and of that liberty which is to go to all and not the few or to the rich alone." Mr. Chairman, there is only one building in the United States where General Kosciuszko spent any time, his Pine Street residence in Philadelphia. As we approach the 200th anniversary of the struggle for independence, it is my judgment that in designating the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home as a National Historic Site, we will have preserved a monument to one of our Revolutionary heroes who fought courageously to secure freedom for all Americans. STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES G. O'HARA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN Mr. Chairman, I welcome this opportunity to present testimony in support of my bill, H.R. 7552, which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to estab lish the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home National Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania. As the Subcommittee is well aware, the Senate has already taken favorable action on a companion bill, which means that we stand closer today, than at any time in the long history of our nation, to paying proper tribute to a man who has often been called the "hero of two worlds"-a man who fought for both American and Polish independence. Our notion virtually on the threshold of its 200th birthday. And if ever there was a time when we should pause and reflect on the contributions made by those who helped us achieve American independence, it is now. Particularly, we should consider some lasting memorial to one of the greatest of America's revolutionary heroes-Thaddeus Kosciuszko. Here was a man who volunteered his services to the Continental Congress during the Revoluntary War, was com missioned a Colonel in the Army Engineers, and was responsible for the construction of the famous fortifications at Saratoga and West Point. No student of the American Revolution has ever questioned the enormous contribution which Thaddeus Kosciuszko made to the success of the Continental Army. No student of miltiary history has ever questioned the fact that Kos ciuszko was probably the greatest fortification expert of his own time, and perhaps of all times. Yet, down through the years, we have failed to place his contributions in their proper perspective, so that all Americans could recognize how much the success of our arms depended on the brilliance of his mind. Republics are notoriously ungrateful, Mr. Chairman. To paraphrase Thomas Paine, in the aftermath of war we all too often are history's "sunshine soldiers." It is unfortunate that our Republic has been particularly ungrateful in terms of paying deserved tribute to Thaddeus Kosciuszko. It would be unfortunate in any event, given the brilliance of the man and the size of his contribution to our Revolution. It is particularly unfortunate, when one considers that Thaddeus Kosciuszko was the forerunner of millions of Polish-Americans who, by their skill, hard work and patriotism, have contributed so much to this country's development. My own State of Michigan, for example, is the home of hundreds of thousands of Americans of Polish descent. It also is the center of some of the great Polish institutions of learning in the world-among them Orchid Lake Center of Polish Studies and Culture. Distinguished scholars in my State, along with others, are in the process of a most exhaustive study of the wellsprings of Polish culture, particularly as it relates to the early history of the United States. Thaddeus Kosciuszko is at the core of that early historical development to which those of Polish extraction lent their efforts and their commitment. And so it is a tragedy that over the years, far too little recognition has been afforded him by the nation he helped to free. The result is that too few Americans today are aware of the important role he played in achieving victory in our Revolutionary war. Mr. Chairman, designation as a National Historic Site of the Kosciuszko House in Philadelphia-the last home which this great man occupied in his adopted land before his death-would provide an opportunity to honor this patriot of two nations. It would serve as an ideal vehicle for conveying to present and future generations of Americans the contribution he made in winning the freedom we cherish so highly. The Thaddeus Kosciusczko Home National Historic Site would be a dual tribute to this great hero of the Revolutionary War. and to the millions of Polish-Americans who, following in the footsteps of Kosciuszko, have adopted their lives, often at great risk, to the cause of freedom. I am proud to have introduced H.R. 7552, Mr. Chairman, because I believe in its goal of rescuing the Thaddeus Kosciuszko House from oblivion and having it declared a National Historic Site. I urge the Subcommittee to give prompt and favorable action to this legislation now pending before it, so that-when our 200th anniversary dawns in 1976-the home will have been restored, and Kosciuszko, himself, will have been elevated to his proper place in the history of a nation whose bicentennial we will then be celebrating. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, REMARKS OF HON. EDWARD A. GARMATZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for scheduling hearings on legislation to designate the Philadelphia home of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko as a National Historic Site. I realize that a number of bills to accomplish this-including H.R. 14255, which I introduced April 10, 1972-are pending before this committee, and I hope your committee's favorable action on this legislative proposal can be expedited. I introduced this legislation because I feel strongly that this old Philadelphia house should be restored and maintained as a proper and lasting memorial to Thaddeus Kosciuszko, the great Polish soldier and patriot whose genius as a military engineer contributed materially to the success of the American Revolution. General Kosciuszko arrived in Philadelphia in August, 1776, and his talents as an engineer became invaluable to the American forces. Since I am sure many of his accomplishments and contributions will be expounded during this hearing, I will confine myself to noting that this brilliant young Polish soldier fortified Philadelphia, and that he was instrumental in helping the Americans win the battle of Saratoga, which was the most decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. Historians say his most outstanding contribution came when he designed, built and fortified West Point, because he made that fortification impregnable, and General Washington had considered retention of West Point indispensable to the American forces during the war. Hearings on this legislative proposal have already been held in the Senate, which passed the bill on March 28 of this year. In the Senate report on that bill, I notice that the Interior Department opposed enactment of this measure. The primary objections of that agency were that General Kosciuszko only lived in his Philadelphia residence for about six months, that this time period occurred about 15 years after the General's most significant contributions to American history, and finally that the house has been greatly altered since that time. Mr. Chairman, I submit that none of these objections are very convincing. As a matter of fact, I think the Interior Department provided us with the most convincing argument that I have yet heard for establishing the home as a national site. In its unfavorable report, the Interior Department said, and I quote: "Apparently, no other structure in the United States associated with Kosciuszko has survived." Since the Interior Department in the same report admits that General Kosciuszko was, in fact, a figure of great significane in the early history of the United States, then I feel totally justified in recommending that the Philadelphia residence-which by Interior's own admission is the only one in our nation that can be associated with this great patriot-should be made as permanent Federal memorial. We in this nation have seen much of progress. We can be proud of our new buildings, our magnificent highways and all of our great technological achievements. But in our prosperity the vestiges of our early days and our early waysall of which helped us to become a great nation. Mr. Chairman, I appeal to you and the other members of this distinguished Committee, to take favorable action on this legislation, in order to preserve this precious bit of Americana. STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN D. DINGELL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate having this opportunity to testify in behalf of my bill, H.R. 657, to establish the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home National Historic Site in Philadelphia. It is especially fitting that we seek to memorialize Kosciuszko at this time. We will soon celebrate the Bicentennial of the birth of our Nation-a time when we will pause to pay tribute to the great heroes of the American Revolution who joined together in the fight against tyrannical rule. No roll call of those men would be complete without the name of Thaddeus Kosciuszko for most historians recognize the signficant contributions he made in the War for Independence. In 1776 Kosciuszko, hearing of the colonists' fight for freedom, left his native Poland to come to America to help the colonists' cause. A military planner and engineer, he built the fortification at Billingsport on the Delaware to defend the approaches to Philadelphia. The defenses he planned at Bemis Heights were acknowledged to have been an important factor in the American victory at Saratoga. He designed the defenses at West Point on the Hudson which later, as he had suggested to General Washington, became the site of the first military academy in the United States. During the eight years he spent in America, he so distinguished himself in the battles for American independence that Congress bestowed upon him the title of Chief Engineer with the rank of Brigadier General and granted to him the rights and privileges of American citizenship. After the War for Independence was over, Kosciuszko returned to his native Poland where a few years later he again took up the sword in another fight for freedom-the freedom of his people from the tyranny of Russian rule. But in this battle the overwhelming forces of the enemy were too great and the gallant Poles were defeated. Kosciuszko was wounded, captured and imprisoned in Russia. Following the death of Czarina Katherine in 1796, her son Paul I freed Kosciuszko on the condition that he never set foot in Poland again. His homeland barred to him, Kosciuszko returned to America where from August 18, 1797, he resided in a house at 301 Pine Street in Philadelphia. He stayed there until May of 1798 when he left for France on a diplomatic mission for the Americans. It is this house we seek to establish as a National Historic site. It is the only existing house in the United States where Kosciuszko is known to have lived. It is regrettable that we must enact legislation in this matter when our goal│ could have been gained otherwise. My colleagues from Michigan, Mr. O'Hara and Mr. Nedzi, and I petitioned the Interior Department's National Advisory Board on Historic Sites to designate the house as an historic site. The Board recommended against such designation on three grounds: (1) Kosciuszko's association with the house lasted only six months. (2) The association occurred about fifteen years after the time of his principal significance in U.S. History. (3) The house has been greatly altered since Kosciuszko lived there. We are fortunate that one building associated with Kosciuszko survives today even though that association was of short duration. That the association was some fifteen years after his "principal significance" in United States History should not even have been a factor in the Boards' decision. The passage of time in no way diminished the significant contributions Kosciuszko made to the American cause. The American people should be thankful that there is still in existence a building-however altered it might be that once knew the tread of this courageous and brilliant individual. We should act now to protect it from further alteration or destruction and to restore it to how it looked at the time Kosciuszko lived there. The designation of the house as an historic site and its restoration would be a fitting memorial to this great man. Mr. Chairman, this legislation has the support of my Democratic colleagues from Michigan. On their behalf and on behalf of all the Polish-American people throughout the country, I urge you to act favorably on it. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK ANNUNZIO, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS Mr. Chairman, because of long-standing previous commitments in Chicago, it is necessary that I return to my city, and consequently, I cannot offer this statement personally as I had originally hoped. However, I do want to take this opportunity to commend the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee, Honorable Roy A. Taylor, who has scheduled these hearings on the various proposals to designate the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home as a National Historic Site. I was one of the early sponsors of legislation to make this designation in order that appropriate recognition might be extended to the outstanding contribution of Thaddeus Kosciuszko to the realization of America's independence. Additionally, such a designation would also honor the tremendous contribution that Polish-Americans have made over the decades to the growth, development, and advancement of our beloved country. I have pursued the objective of securing this recognition of Kosciuszko in every way possible. When the Senate Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation held hearings, I testified in support of the proposal to designate the Kosciuszko Home in Phliadelphia as a National Historic Site. I have spoken on the Floor of the House of Representatives in behalf of this proposal on various occasions. I have spoken personally with Honorable Rogers C. B. Morton, secretary of the Interior, urging him to withdraw the original adverse recommendation of the Department and to issue in its stead a favorable recommendation regarding designation of the Kosciuszko Home as a National Historic Site. I have contacted Mr. Frank C. Carlucci, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and have urged him to act favorably on releasing funds that would make this recognition possible. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to inform you and the Members of this Subcommittee that I have just received a letter from Wilfred H. Rommel, Assistant Director for Legislative Reference, Office of Management and Budget, informing me that the Interior supplemental report, which recommends that the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home in Philadelphia receive recognition as a national memorial, has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget and has been submitted to the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. I know that the Members of the Interior Committee will now proceed expeditiously to consider the Interior Department's proposal, as well as pending legislation to designate the Homes as a National Historic Site, and take final action before the exipration of the 92nd Congress. I request that Mr. Rommel's letter be made part of the official record of this hearing. Mr. Rommel's letter follows: HON. FRANK ANNUNZIO, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, House of Representatives, DEAR MR. ANNUNZIO: This is in response to your letter of August 22, 1972, in which you request that this Office expedite clearance of an Interior proposed supplemental report (re H.R. 256) which recommends that the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home in Philadelphia receive recognition as a national memorial. We are pleased to advise you that Interior's supplemental report has been cleared by this Office, and we understand that it has been submitted to the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. WILFRED H. ROMMEL, Assistant Director for Legislative Reference. I also want to say, Mr. Chairman, that although I am pleased the Interior Department, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and Budget, has now reversed itself by withdrawing the previous adverse recommedation and instead submitting a favorable recommendation for a memorial, nonetheless I am still firmly convinced that designation of a national historic site rather than a memorial would be more appropriate recognition of the tremendous contribution that Kosciuszko made to America. Although we are all familiar with that contribution, or if we are not, we should be, for our country's very existence was dependent on it, permit me to review that contribution for a few brief moments. Mr. Chairman, the American struggle for independence beckoned many zealous defenders of liberty to our land. Polish patriots were foremost among their numbers, and one of the most outstanding of the Polish patriots was Thaddeus Kosciuszko. Kosciuszko contributed a much needed scientific knowledge of military engineering and an unwavering enthusiasm for the cause of freedom. By virtue of his military education and experience, Kosciuszko proved to be an invaluable asset to the struggling young colonies. Thaddeus Kosciuszko had a special longing for freedom for all men. During his own childhood and as a youth, he had watched as his beloved Poland slowly sank beneath the heels of encroaching Russians, Prussians, Turks and Austrians. As a youth at the Warsaw Cadet School he had witnessed freedomloving Polish senators being sent into Russian bondage. By the time he had reached manhood, Kosciuszko's Poland had already suffered the indignity of partition. The young man looked elsewhere to join the battle for freedom. Fired by the dream of American independence, Kosciuszko, well-educated and eager to serve, arrived in Philadelphia in 1776, at a time when America was still alone in the insurrection, and when she had just given to the world her Declaration of Independence. Kosciuszko was among the ablest and most idealistic volunteers to reach America from Europe. He was a professional soldier rather than a professional adventurer. He linked his career to the American cause as result of deeply held democratic convictions rather than from the motives of self-advancement or vain glory. In the Spring of 1777, after receiving a commission as a colonel from the Continental Congress, Kosciuszko joined the Northern Army where his ability as an engineer was of invaluable use in the campaign against Burgoyne. His ability to build almost impenetrable fortifications and his able judgment in the choice of battlegrounds contributed much to the final defeat of Burgoyne's forces. The fortification of the Heights of West Point was Kosciuszko's most important undertaking in America. To maintain West Point meant to command the Hudson, and in the words of General Washington, "the Hudson River was indispensably essential to preserve the communication between the Eastern, 'Middle, and Southern States." In the midst of difficulties similar to those of Valley Forge, Kosciuszko labored for over two years, and within that time made West Point impregnable. “Kosciuszko's merit lies in this." wrote General Armstrong. "that he gave the fortifications such strength that they frightened the enemy from all temptation of even trying to take the Highlands." In 1780 Kosciuszko was appointed Chief Engineer of the Army of the South. Remaining there until the end of the war, he was regarded "as one of the most useful and best liked from among his comrades-in arms." But as soon as American independence was won, Kosciuszko set sail for Europe. There he spent his remaining years fighting in vain for the freedom of his beloved Poland. The aid which he had extended to the American Colonies was a gift which this country could never really repay. In our time, we have the opportunity to honor the great Polish patriotThaddeus Kosciuszko by designating the home in which he resided at 301 South Pine Street in Philadelphia as a National Historic Site. By extending this recognition, we will publicly be expressing the feeling of all our citizens that the selfless spirit of a very great man shall never be forgotten by a grateful |