1Honoring the life and contributions of Thaddeus Kosciuszko,
2Polish engineer and hero of the American Revolution.

3WHEREAS, Thaddeus Kosciuszko was born in Poland on February
44, 1746; and

5WHEREAS, Kosciuszko studied engineering prior to moving to
6America in 1776 and was later commissioned as Colonel of
7Engineers by the Continental Congress; and

8WHEREAS, After being commissioned, Kosciuszko began his
9service of fortifying battle sites, many of which became turning
10points in America's fight for independence against the British;
11and

12WHEREAS, While in Philadelphia in 1776, Kosciuszko read the
13Declaration of Independence and was deeply moved; and

14WHEREAS, When Kosciuszko discovered that Thomas Jefferson was

1responsible for drafting the Declaration, he felt compelled to
2meet him and traveled to Virginia to do so; and

3WHEREAS, After meeting, Kosciuszko and Jefferson became the
4best of friends; and

5WHEREAS, In war, Kosciuszko helped with fortifications at the
6Philadelphia waterfront at Fort Mercer and also along the Hudson
7and planned the defense for Saratoga, which became known as one
8of military history's most famous struggles for independence and
9proved to be a turning point in the war; and

10WHEREAS, Kosciuszko was made chief engineer of West Point,
11New York, which was unable to be penetrated by the British Army;
12and

13WHEREAS, Kosciuszko is credited with suggesting to General
14George Washington that West Point become a military academy; and

15WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson wrote of Kosciuszko and described
16him "as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known"; and

17WHEREAS, Prior to leaving America in 1798 to return to his
18homeland, Kosciuszko requested that the money from his estate be
19used to buy freedom for slaves in order to help educate them and
20provide them with land and liberty; and

21WHEREAS, Kosciuszko died at 72 years of age on October 15,
221817; therefore be it

23RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life
24and contributions of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish engineer and
25hero of the American Revolution.