[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3026-H3027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL HARRY C. KESSLER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, within these walls we debate and vote on 
important issues in full public view. We gather before those in the 
public gallery and those watching across the Nation on television, but 
we also do so with the spirit of millions of men and women also 
watching, those who have served this Nation in the Armed Forces.
  These brave Americans served us during the days of the Revolutionary 
War, and are followed through the generation by legions, including 
those who today are stationed around the globe. They honor our flag of 
stars and stripes. That flag has changed somewhat since the days of the 
American Revolution, but the courage and valor of those who serve us is 
still the standard for the rest of the world.
  This afternoon, in the gallery of this Chamber, before this great 
flag, I welcome the family members of one such courageous American. I 
ask all Americans to take a few minutes this afternoon and remember the 
dedicated service of Brigadier General Harry C. Kessler.
  Harry Kessler's life and legacy remains important and vibrant today, 
more than 90 years since his death, and more than 137 years since the 
bold 18-year-old with a taste for adventure signed up for what would be 
a proud career of military and national service.
  Shortly after enlisting in the 104th Pennsylvania Regiment, Harry 
Kessler was thrust into the American Civil War. He served as a second 
lieutenant in his regiment. After service at Camp Lacey, located just 
outside of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, he was transferred to Washington, 
D.C. for training. In November of 1861 he served in the Peninsula 
campaign of Virginia. He served in the battle of Williamsburg, as well 
as the battles of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines.
  In 1862, now as a second lieutenant, Harry Kessler was placed in 
charge of confederate prisoners who he personally returned to Camp 
Curtain in Pennsylvania, just outside of Harrisburg. Once there, he 
helped to provide subsistence to the Pennsylvania troops at the battle 
of Gettysburg.
  In 1863, at the rank of second lieutenant, Harry Kessler resigned 
from his regiment. In the mid-1870s, Harry Kessler joined his brother 
Charles in Butte, Montana. In 1876, a number of decisions that would 
forever change his life were made. He began to purchase

[[Page H3027]]

land and he staked mining claims, and he established a newspaper known 
as the Butte Miner.
  Most notably, though, Harry Kessler married Josephine Alden 
Dillworth, whom he had met on his way to Montana. Harry Kessler was 
elected Silver Bow county commissioner in 1883, and served for 2 years. 
He was later elected county treasurer.
  But, in 1889, Harry Kessler again felt the strong obligation for 
national service. He formed the First Montana U.S. Volunteer Infantry, 
which is now known as the National Guard. That regiment was mustered 
into service 100 years ago, during the outbreak of the Spanish-American 
War. It fought in the battles of Manila and Caloocan, and Santo Tomas, 
and San Fernando in the Philippines, among others. The infantry was 
mustered out of service in 1889, but in praise of his action, Colonel 
Kessler was brevetted to the rank of brigadier general by President 
William McKinley.

                              {time}  1245

  My fellow Montanans who are looking in today may not have heard of 
General Kessler until today, but certainly they know his work. During 
the formative years of the 1st Montana Regiment, he designed a flag 
which would later become the State flag of Montana after the regimental 
insignia was removed. Near the end of his life, he returned home to 
Philadelphia to help with the lithograph company of Booker and Kessler, 
the company he founded before leaving for Montana.
  On September 12, 1907, General Harry Kessler died and was buried at 
Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, survived by his wife and two 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, in less than 2 weeks time there is an important national 
holiday that needs a renewed perspective. Amid the holiday sales and 
the barbecues of the Memorial Day weekend, we need to honor the true 
spirit of those whose lives and dedicated service we are called upon to 
remember. General Harry Kessler is one of those Americans. I am proud 
to say that he will be among those honored at a special Memorial Day 
ceremony paying tribute to Spanish-American War veterans on this 100th 
anniversary. The ceremony will be held in front of Philadelphia's 
historic Independence Hall. The Montana Historical Society, located 
across from my State's Capitol Building in Helena, plans an exhibition 
of artifacts relating to the life of General Kessler; and the Civil War 
Museum in Philadelphia is planning an exhibit as well.
  We gather here in this Chamber under the proud flag of a proud Nation 
and we are humbled by the spirits of millions of Americans who, like 
General Harry Kessler, gave of themselves to build a foundation upon 
which this great Republic continues to thrive.
  I ask all Americans to join me in remembering these courageous 
spirits on Memorial Day, May 25.

                          ____________________