[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE GENERAL VON STEUBEN MONUMENT

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                         HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to ffor th one 
hundredth anniversary of the dedication of the monument to General von 
Steuben across the street from the White House--in Lafayette Park, 
Washington, DC.
  The monument to General Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben was dedicated 
in a ceremony presided over by President William H. Taft on December 7, 
1910. Taking its place among the statues of three other European-born 
Revolutionary War heroes, the Steuben monument serves as a reminder of 
the tactical foresight and invaluable contributions of General von 
Steuben to the United States military during the American Revolution.
  General von Steuben arrived in the United States from Prussia during 
a period of great turmoil for our young country. Facing the superior 
forces of Great Britain, the American military lacked experience, 
tradition, and proper training. It was under these circumstances that 
General von Steuben wrote to General George Washington prior to his 
arrival in 1778, stating ``The object of my greatest ambition is to 
render your country all the service in my power, and to deserve the 
title of a citizen of America by fighting for the cause of liberty.'' 
General von Steuben is credited with almost singlehandedly transforming 
the Continental Army from a group of untrained militias into a 
professional army capable of defeating the strongest military in the 
world.
  In addition to his battlefield heroics, General von Steuben's 
enduring impact lives on through the U.S. Armed Forces' continuing 
reference to his ``Blue Book,'' which outlines a training plan that has 
served as the standard bearer for strategic military preparation. 
General von Steuben's contributions and accomplishments continue to 
serve as a source of great pride and inspiration for the millions of 
German-Americans living in the United States today.
  The Steuben Society, founded in 1919 and named in honor of General 
von Steuben, serves to educate the public about matters of interest to 
American citizens of German heritage and their families, to encourage 
participation in civic affairs, and to perpetuate and enhance the 
understanding of contributions made by German Americans to our nation. 
I am proud that the national headquarters of the Steuben Society is 
located in Patchogue, New York, which is my district and home to 
130,000 German-American constituents.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the centennial anniversary 
of the dedication of the General von Steuben monument in Lafayette 
Park, and I commend the Steuben Society for its active role in 
promoting the culture and contributions of German-American citizens 
across the United States.

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