Are we to suppose that all Americans of past as well as of present and future generations should be content to accept statues and rock gardens as sufficient evidence of the contributions that Tadeusz Kosciuszko made to our American heritage of freedom during and after the American Revolutionary War? We owe it to our history to preserve a more tangible and living monument to this great man, one which shall be a proper and long lasting recognition of his accomplishments so that all Americans who enjoy the liberty he so brilliantly fought for be enabled to better appreciate the respect this historic figure had for all his fellowmen. The Philadelphia Bulletin, an outstanding newspaper in our community, highly regarded nationally, earlier this year editorialized that "for a lack of a shrine to commemorate his services, Kosciuszko is forgotten."

It was in the city of Philadelphia where he began his heroic American career and it was in the shadows of that great Hall of Independence in the cradle of our liberty where he last resided in this country. What is more fitting than to enshrine this site at 301 Pine Street in order to preserve the general's last personal and physical contact with the Nation where he left so much of his heritage and let this be an expression of America's gratitude for the selfless spirit of a great American patriot.

In conclusion, I would just like for the matter of the record to state that we have with us some 100 representatives of various organizations throughout the community in southeastern Pennsylvania. If it would be allowed, I would just like to have them stand and be recognized. Mr. TAYLOR. Go ahead.

Mr. WYSZYNSKI. I would like to have community representatives stand, please.

Mr. TAYLOR. I see that a substantial portion of the people here are in the group.

Does that complete your statement?

Mr. WYSZYNSKI. Yes, it does, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. TAYLOR. I commend you on a very, very fine, sincere statement. You have heard the recommendations of the National Park Service that the home be preserved as a national memorial rather than as a national historic site. Do you support this recommendation?

Mr. WYSZYNSKI. I feel that this would be appropriate at this time. Mr. TAYLOR. Now, would you prefer that the home be restored to its original condition and that restored house be the memorial, or would you prefer a monument or a statue or a rock garden or something different from the home?

Mr. WYSZYNSKI. I feel that the restoration of the home will become tangible, a living thing that the general left for the Americans here. I feel that this is the only way that we can leave the heritage that he gave us in our freedom.

Mr. TAYLOR. You think the home itself, then, will be more meaningful?

Mr. WYSZYNSKI. I believe that that is the only way we can memorialize.

Mr. TAYLOR. The gentleman from Alaska?

Mr. BEGICH. No questions.

Mr. TAYLOR. The gentleman from Puerto Rico?

Mr. CÓRDOVA. No questions.

Mr. TAYLOR. The gentleman from Missouri?

Mr. BURLISON. I have no questions.

Mr. TAYLOR. Thank you very much, Mr. Wyszynski.

Next I recognize Mr. E. J. Piszek.

Mr. Piszek, you are listed as president and a group of other people are listed along with you, so I would like for you to recognize them. I understand you are appearing as one group.

STATEMENT OF E. J. PISZEK, PRESIDENT, MRS. PAUL'S KITCHEN

Mr. PISZEK. Yes, and we will try to be as brief and to the point as possible.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, we wish to concur in the recommendations of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Additionally, we cannot refrain from expressing and respectfully ask that the record indicate our deep appreciation, not only of the great interest of the Department of the Interior, both in Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko and our own concern for him. Actually, it was the ingenuity and expertise of the people of the Department of the Interior, particularly Secretary Rogers Morton, Assistant Secretary Reed, and Associate Director Hulett and their untiring efforts which made this happy result possible.

There is no disagreement on the facts. All are agreed on the greatness of General Kosciuszko. For this reason, instead of lengthy testimony, we respectfully request a statement of each witness be included into the record.

Mr. TAYLOR. In the absence of objection, it is so ordered. All statements will be included in the record in full.

(The prepared statement of Mr. Piszek follows:)

STATEMENT OF E. J. PISZEK, PRESIDENT, MRS. PAUL'S KITCHEN

Mr. Chairman, honorable members of the Senate Committee, gentlemen, it has been a matter of growing concern for my colleagues and myself that the vast contributions of the various European-ethnic groups which went into the founding and developing of our American heritage have been overlooked, while the instant case of Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the acquisition of his last remaining residence is immediately in point. In speaking to this issue we hope to also illuminate the other European-American ethnic contributions. I make it clear, I hope, that we are not appearing merely as the descendants of Poles seeking recognition of the American revolutionary hero of Polish birth. On the contrary, we are appearing as Americans for Americans claiming that facet of American heritage which we deem ourselves as Americans of Polish descent, particularly charged to raise to the consciousness of all Americans, regardless of race, creed or color, what we believe to be vast dimensions of previously neglected areas of our American spiritual heritage.

From time to time there appears in the affairs of men certain gifted and exalted souls so talented in personal accomplishments that they would achieve fame on these alone. But when added to their genius in such a vast dynamic concept of liberty for all men, such few men, in the words of Emerson, forge themselves into immortality.

Practically all schoolchildren in America-and many children in foreign conntries--are aware of the fact that Benjamin Franklin, in addition to being a statesman and an author and a publisher, was also a great scientist and inventor: and there are very few who do not know that Thomas Jefferson, in addition to being the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, was also a musician, a palenontologist, and a distinguished architect. But very, very few are aware that Thaddeus Kosciuszko, military genius, whose fortifications saved the Hudson Valley at West Point and the Delaware Valley below Philadelphia, also designed those fortifications at Saratoga which are the prime cause of that victory which marked the turning point of the Revolutionary War. Fewer

still are aware that Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a brilliant theological student, graduating with highest honors from a Jesuit college, before being preempted as a King's cadet for the Military Academy of Poland.

Fewer still know that as a postgraduate student in Paris, he immersed himself in the studies of those masters of philosophy upon whom Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Father modeled our country.

But in terms of this hearing today, most importantly, Thaddeus Kosciuszko made such an exhaustive study of fortifications, particularly of the greatest master of all, Vauban, that in the mastery of this art he became, inevitably, an extremely good painter and a first-class architect. It was out of his love of architecture and his even greater love of man and his liberty-that he and Thomas Jefferson became the closest of friends.

I should be less than frank if I did not say that my colleagues and I were frequently at a loss as to how to present a full picture of the full talents, let alone the fateful contribution of Thaddeus Kosciuszko at Saratoga. Born of his superior knowledge of fortifications at its most critical battle, to which this Republic in considerable part owes its existence.

In a larger sense, we consider this hearing also a turning point, an hour of decision, in a crucial battle to reclaim as Americans for Americans, full knowledge of those brave and noble men of all nationalities, all races, and all creeds, whose imagination, dedication and life's work went into the founding and the building of this country.

Mr. Justice Cardozo declared that silence prolonged can be measured. And as we here today break the silence which has followed the name of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko for two centuries, we as Americans of Polish descent, feel that he is on trial. We hope the case we intend to make for him today-by incontrovertible evidence is such that you will render a verdict that he deserves to be rescued from obscurity-not for his sake-not for Poland's sake-not for our sake as Polish descendants-but for the sake of that American heritage of which we as American citizens are proud heirs.

Mr. PISZEK. I would like now to introduce the next witness, Aloysius A. Mazewski, attorney at law, president of the Polish National Alliance, largest Polish fraternal organization; president of the Polish American Congress, a former officer of the U.S. Army, Mr. Mazewski. STATEMENT OF ALOYSIUS A. MAZEWSKI, PRESIDENT, POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE, AND PRESIDENT, POLISH-AMERICAN CONGRESS

Mr. MAZEWSKI. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I did submit a lengthy statement. I have a shortened summary, which will take me about 3 minutes.

Mr. TAYLOR. Your full statement will be made a part of the record. You may proceed.

Mr. MAZEWSKI. The Polish-American Congress is a cosponsor of the petition before this committee to declare the last residence of Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko to be a historic site. The statement addresses itself to the question of two centuries of neglect of Kosciuszko, particularly on the part of the textbooks of the United States.

General Kosciuszko fell victim to this two centuries of neglect by being left out of the history books, notably his contribution to the Saratoga victory are entirely omitted or at least glossed over. The services of Kosciuszko were praised and appreciated by Washington, Jefferson, and the Congress. His love of freedom and his altrustic dedication to the cause of freedom won him admiration and respect, not only in Poland and the United States, he was given a hero's welcome and enthusiastic receptions in Great Britain, France, and Switzerland. These two centuries of neglect regarding the part Kosciuszko played in our War of Independence gains additional dimension when we con

sider the fact that Polish pioneers and explorers were part of the American history since the times of Jamestown. Their deeds and contributions to the founding and development of our Republic, like those of Kosciuszko and Pulaski, are negated by silence in our history books. We feel that this lapse in the American educational system should be rectified and the first step toward that goal would be honoring Kosciuszko with a national historic site.

Jamestown was a milestone in the history of our Nation and the Poles were there. Saratoga was a milestone in the history of our Republic, and Kosciuszko has made a decisive contribution to it. This in itself speaks volumes in favor of having a Kosciuszko National Historic Site in our land.

We certainly deeply appreciate the fact that the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs is conducting this hearing and giving us the opportunity to present our petition in support of the Kosciuszko National Site, just recently, having learned about the decision of the Department of Interior and having heard their presentation that they have no objections to making it a national memorial, naturally, with the important emphasis that it is a last place of residence of General Kosciuszko, that the property will be restored and have some meaning instead of just a plain type of a memorial. So we have no objections, like Mr. Piszek mentioned, provided that these conditions would be met, that the average citizen who visits the particular site will know that Kosciuszko was there; that at least they can feel his presence if he wishes to go back to the days of the Revolution.

I thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (The prepared statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF ALOYSIUS A. MAZEWSKI, PRESIDENT, POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE

Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, the matter before this honorable body here today is a petition to which the Polish American Congress is party. Its objective is to declare the last and only evidence on American soil connected with General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a national historical site.

This, indeed, is the question before your committee, but I most respectfully state-it is part of much broader issue. The broader issue involved is that to deprive any American of part of our national heritage is to deprive all. I have the honor to be president of combined organizations of persons of Polish descent numbering in the many millions, who are resident throughout the union and with particularly large concentrations in the major cities of our larger states. Colloquially, these American citizens of Polish descent are today known as Polonia and the Polish American Congress is the central organization of their constituent bodies; and it is on behalf of them I speak.

Today, however, I should like to address myself specifically to General Thaddeus Kosciuszko and two centuries of neglect. I do not seek to indict all of the historians of America-but I cannot refrain from noting that there comes a time when nonfeasance has the effect of malfeasance, and this, I submit, is as applicable to the keepers of records of events, the historians, as to the fashioners of events, the statesmen.

The result has been that the public school systems of the United States omit entirely the pioneering history of men of Polish descent, when as a matter of fact, they antedate the arrivals on the Mayflower, now, as this committee is well aware, a considerable number of our leading citizens take just pride in the fact that their ancestors were among the colonists on the plucky little ship which landed at Plymouth Rock and indeed, are often at considerable pains to remind us of this laudable venture of their distinguished forebears. No one, in fact, seeks to detract in the least from the performances of their ancestors— which history has so properly burnished.

By the same token, the restraint and modesty of your fellow American citizens of Polish descent in holding their peace for 350 years must commend itself to

your fair judgment and consideration, since a considerable number of Poles arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, some 12 years before the Mayflower arrived, and at the express invitation of Captain John Smith himself,

The question might properly be asked as to why we haven't raised the question before this; but the truth is that we rise not to assert a past claim, but to rebut a present libel against Poles, Polish culture and Poles of American descent. It is not by way of asking special privilege as sole original founders of the American culture and this Republic, but by way of demanding the equal right and dignity which is presently denied us in the American history books, the mass media and in the councils of this Nation as contributors to it.

The flagrant ignoring of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko highlights the point. That point he and General Casimir Pulaski wrote in terms of their blood in the American revolution, the latter indeed with his lifesblood.

But there are many other threads woven into the national fabric, in the colors of the white and red of Poland before, indeed, there was a red, white and blue flag. Those same Poles at Jamestown started the first factory in the United States, a glass factory, and, indeed, a year before the Mayflower compact was signed, they struck for-and were granted-full and equal rights of citizenship in the Jamestown Colony.

This was pursuant to that ancient motto of Poland by which it came into existence, "Polak Nie Sluga"-"A Pole shall never be a serf," and if this committee pleases, that is among other reasons why we, as Americans of Poland descent, appear here today. We are tired of that ridiculous lapse in the American Educational System whereby we and our people are treated as Johnny-ComeLatelies, mere beneficiaries of the American civilization, when as a matter of fact, our ancestors were an integral part of colonial history, leaders of the suc cessful American Revolution.

I pass over the anglicizing of Polish names, whereby Dr. Alexander Kurcjusz, founder in 1659 of the first instituition of higher learning in New York comes down to us as Dr. Curtius. I mention only in passing that a great Polish nobleman, Albert Zaborowski became New Jersey's leading jurist and the progenitor of a famous New Jersey family encompassing vast areas of the Passaic and Hudson Valley; nor do I think there is a particular point in laboring that among the first pioneers over the Alleghenies, long before Daniel Boone, was John Anthony Sadowski, whose pioneer outpost is now known to us as Sandusky, Ohio. His sons, following the family tradition, assisted Dan Boone in the founding of Harrisburgh, Ky. This is unknown to all but a few Americans-such as Dan Boone and that other pioneer, President Theodore Roosevelt.

I repeat, therefore, that the antecedents of Polish culture were sown when the colonies were seedlings, and have since been inextricably woven in the fabric of American culture.

But, I cannot help but note, that if any question exists on that score, the volunteer services of General Pulaski and Kosciuszko in the American revolution establish them beyond a reasonable doubt.

There appears to be a fatuous misunderstanding about their participation. They were not soldiers of fortune, still less men of vague standing. They were products of a most advanced civilization, a civilization which had produced the most learned of men including Mikolaj Kopernik-Copernicus-and they left the comforts and position of their country because their culture had produced men universal enough to fight for the univeral aspirations of men as represented by the young, raw and struggling American Republic.

The fact that they were commissioned upon their arrival attests to their accomplishment, their bearing and their honor; that they discharged that trust fully-Pulaski at the cost of his life-and Kosciuszko in the saving of this republic-is why we appear her etoday.

Jamestown was a milestone in the history of this nation, and Poles were there. Saratoga was a milestone in the history of this republic, and a Pole, Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko make it possible. This in itself speaks volumes in favor of having a Kosciuszko historical site in our land.

We who attend here, also feel that today is a milestone, for as of this day, we of American-Polish descent are determined, as a special duty, to reclaim for all Americans their obscured Polish heritage. Like the Americans and the Poles of our ancestors before us, we seek never to fail either; and for granting this full and fair hearing in support of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko house as a national historic site, please accept the thanks of myself, the organizations and the members thereof in whose behalf I have spoken.