It was named by the Polish explorer Pawel Edmund Strzelecki in 1840, in honor of the Polish-Lithuanian national hero, General Tadeusz Kościuszko, because of its perceived resemblance to the Kościuszko Mound in Kraków.
Posted on 05/28/2018 9:44:42 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
Two months after Ben Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence, a surprise visitor walked into his Philadelphia shop. The young man’s curly brown hair cascaded down toward his shoulders, and his English was so broken he switched to French. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a 30-year-old Pole just off the boat from Europe via the Caribbean, introduced himself and offered to enlist as an officer in the new American nation’s army.
Franklin, curious, quizzed Kosciuszko about his education: a military academy in Warsaw, studies in Paris in civil engineering, including fort building. Franklin asked him for letters of recommendation. Kosciuszko had none.
Instead, the petitioner asked to take a placement exam in engineering and military architecture. Franklin’s bemused answer revealed the inexperience of the Continental Army. “Who would proctor such an exam,” Franklin asked, “when there is no one here who is even familiar with those subjects?”
On August 30, 1776, armed with Franklin’s recommendation and high marks on a geometry exam, Kosciuszko walked into Independence Hall and introduced himself to the Continental Congress.
In his native Poland, Kosciuszko is known for leading the Kosciuszko Uprising of 1794, a brave insurrection against foreign rule by Russia and Prussia. But that came before the liberty-loving Pole played a key but overlooked role in the American Revolution. Though not nearly as well known as the Marquis de Lafayette, America’s most celebrated foreign ally of the era, Kosciuszko was in many ways his equal. Both volunteered with an idealistic belief in democracy, both had a major impact on a climactic battle in the Revolution, both returned home to play prominent roles in their own country’s history, both enjoyed the friendship/high esteem of American Founding Fathers. Kosciuszko did something more: he held his American friends to the highest ideals of equality on the issue of slavery.
(Excerpt) Read more at smithsonianmag.com ...
Today is Memorial Day. A time to reflect on all our soldier's sacrifices.
This morning I read that Poland had pushed for a permanent US military base to be built in Poland.
Poland Pushes For Permanent US Military Base, Offers Up To $2B
http://www.ibtimes.com/poland-pushes-permanent-us-military-base-offers-2b-2685045
FR Comments:
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3658742/posts
It's been 5 years since this patriot was discussed on FR. When I found this article I thought it fitting in that it explained why Poland would strongly want a US base on their soil. Reasons dating back to the day of the American Revolution.
One of history’s good guys.
Move a base from somewhere in Germany to where we’d be appreciated. Our soldiers have to be on good behavior. Some of those Polish women are knockouts.
Also see: Casimir Pulaski.
If it happens, there well be a lot of U.S. - Polish marriages.
Nothing wrong with that.
Yes, and he died in battle fighting to free America.
Absolutely. We need more like that. I know we still have them.
Very interesting history. Thanks for posting.
Your suggestion has merit. It might actually be a good duty station. smile.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I’m glad you liked it. Thanks.
It was named by the Polish explorer Pawel Edmund Strzelecki in 1840, in honor of the Polish-Lithuanian national hero, General Tadeusz Kościuszko, because of its perceived resemblance to the Kościuszko Mound in Kraków.
Casimir Pulaski was another Polish immigrant who served well in the American Revolution.
Thanks for posting. I didn’t know much about his history.
His statue in Detroit...
http://detroit1701.org/Kosciuszko%20Statue.html
Following a recommendation by Benjamin Franklin, Pulaski immigrated to North America to help in the cause of the American Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself throughout the revolution, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington. Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and reformed the American cavalry as a whole. At the Battle of Savannah, while leading a daring charge against British forces, he was gravely wounded, and died shortly thereafter.
Thanks. I did not know about the statue in Detroit.
Kielbasa fr everybody!
Yes, he died fighting in the American Revolution.
And I think both of those Pols knew Gene Lafayette.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.