[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 81 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             APPRECIATING HUNGARIAN PATRIOT MICHAEL KOVATS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2022

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, this week on May 10th a 
Marker Dedication Ceremony was held in Charleston, South Carolina, for 
Michael Kovats de Fabricy, the Founding Father of the United States 
Calvary.
  Michael Kovats de Fabricy was a Hungarian nobleman and accomplished 
officer in the Prussian Calvary. He was a retired Hussar major in the 
Austro-Hungarian army. Upon learning of the American Revolution, he 
wrote on January 17, 1777, to American Ambassador to France, Benjamin 
Franklin, to volunteer his services and pledged himself ``faithful unto 
death.''
  Kovats was appointed colonel commandant of Pulaski's Legion in the 
Continental Army in 1778. He recruited, trained, and led what became 
the first U.S. Calvary unit. He was the highest-ranking Hungarian 
military officer in the American Revolutionary War. Kovats was killed 
on May 11, 1779, while leading an assault on British troops in 
Charleston, South Carolina. He remained true to his word and was loyal 
and faithful to American freedom to his death.
  The Dedication Ceremony was appropriately at The Old Exchange 
Building coordinated by Director Tony Youmans. In the American 
Revolution British tea was seized and stored at the Exchange Building 
basement then sold to finance the Revolution and not thrown into the 
harbor. The Color Guard of the venerated Washington Light Infantry was 
provided by Major General Henry Siegling, Commander, and Colonel Myron 
C. Herrington, Historian and Secretary. The Washington Light Infantry 
is a military and social organization founded in 1807 as one of the 
oldest in America.
  The Dedication and Unveiling was conducted by National Society 
Daughters of American Revolution President General Denise Doring 
VanBuren.
  It was extraordinary Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of 
Hungary, Magor Ernyei delivered remarks at the event and highlighting 
that there is a statue of Michael Kovats in Washington outside the 
Embassy of Hungary. Clearly there is great affection in South Carolina 
for the people of Hungary. We will always cherish the courage of 
Hungarians to oppose the Soviet Tank Invasion of 1956 just as we 
support the people of Ukraine to oppose the Putin Tank Invasion of 
2022.
  Program participants in the service and assisted in this event from 
the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution: 
Bonnibel Moffat, South Carolina State Regent; Nancy Herritage, State 
Historian; Laura Kessler, Historian General; Pamela Bork, Chaplain 
General; Cynthia Sweeney, Librarian General; Janet Whittington, Curator 
General; Elizabeth Billham, Vice President General; and Pat Kinard, 
Regent of the Rebecca Motte Chapter.

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