Bethlen Almanac 2001 (Ligonier)
The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America
Köszönetét érdemel a washingtoni magyar nagykövet, Jeszenszky Géza, az Amerikai Magyar Református Egyesület vezetősége és munkatársai és Dr. Molnár Ágoston, az Amerikai Magyar Alapítványtól. Ok adták a szobrászművésznek, Mr. Thompsonnak, valamint a rendező bizottságnak a szükséges anyagot, hogy ezt a tökéletesen szép programot megrendezzék. Életem egyik legszebb, legemlékezetesebb napja volt. Kovács Mária KOSSUTH CELEBRATED IN IOWA “Kossuth on State” The Third General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature established Kossuth County, Iowa, on January 15,1851. Kossuth County was named in honor of Lajos (Louis) Kossuth, the Hungarian Patriot and Statesman who had dedicated his life to freedom and liberty for his country. Kossuth’s exploits to free his country in 1848-1849 stirred the emotions of the people of the United States and his struggle for freedom was the reason that the Iowa Legislature felt that it would be fitting to name a newly created county in his honor. Kossuth County, Iowa, has the distinction of being the only county in the United States named Kossuth. In the early months of 1999, Kossuth County’s Courthouse Department Heads met with the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors to discuss plans to commemorate the upcoming 150th anniversary of the establishment of Kossuth County. In September of 1999, the department heads once again met with the board of supervisors to discuss ideas for the 150th anniversary celebration. It was decided at that time that a volunteer committee should be formed and that they should work with the Kossuth County Historical Society to develop a project for the 150th anniversary celebration. A call for volunteers was made at that time and the 150th Anniversary Committee was formed. After just a few meetings, the committee decided that a life-size bronze statue of Lajos Kossuth, placed in front of the courthouse, would be the ideal project that would satisfy the goals that had been established by the committee. It was envisioned that the statue would be placed on a granite base and would be surrounded by a patio area composed of engraved bricks and granite pavers, which would be sold to fund the project. The committee then contacted local award winning artist, Wayne Thompson of rural Swea City, Iowa, to see if he would be interested in 79
