Fraternity-Testvériség, 1958 (36. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1958-02-01 / 2. szám
FRATERNITY 3 AN APPEAL TO ALL WITH A HISTORIC NAME Is Your Name KOVAC or KOVACH or KOVACK or KOVÁCS or KOVATCH or KOVATSCH or KOVATZ or KOWATCH If So, We Have a Pleasant Surprise for You! You may know that Kovács stems from the Magyar word for “flint” (KOVA) and “wright” (ÁCS). So it could be translated Flintwright, or Smith for short. But the name has a special connotation for Americans who hail from Hungary. For the first Magyar to lay down his life in battle that these United States may become an independent nation was KOVÁTS. His life story is a fascinating one, which should be taught in school. Benjamin Franklin, the first American envoy in Paris, suggested to General George Washington that he avail himself of the services of a well qualified Hungarian hussar, Col. Michael Kováts by name. Soon we find Washington’s cavalry reorganized and Drillmaster Kováts placed second in commmand to the famed General Pulaski himself. Contemporary historians remarked on the bravery and efficiency of Col. Kováts, who distinguished himself in many a battle from New York down to the Carolinas. When the enemy surrounded the proud port city of Charleston, S. C., Kováts and his Legion were sent to the rescue. He died of a mortal wound received while counter-attacking the enemy when Pulaski was threatened with capture. The American Hungarian Federation placed a plaque on the spot where Kováts fell, near the Citadel, the Military Academy of the State of South Carolina. An equestrian statuette commemorates our revolutionary hero in the Anderson Museum, Washington, palatial center of the descendants of revolutionary officers, where presidential dinners are staged when the White House proves too small. Now the Federation has named its national headquarters in our Capital City: Col. Kováts Memorial Building. It seems fair to ask every namesake of Kováts to contribute according to his or her means, to spread the Kováts story far and wide. Postcards and booklets will be published, lectures given, etc. Donations to that end will be officially receipted and the names of those giving ten dollars ($10) or over will be cast in bronze in the lobby of the Col. Kováts Memorial Building. Will you, too, help us in making the Kováts name more glorious — and properly honor the first American Hungarian who lived up to his motto, “Faithful unto death . . .” Contributions are to be sent to: AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION — Col. Kováts Memorial Building 1761 “R” Street, N. W„ Washington 9, D. C. By joining forces, we can permanently honor one of our kin who in 1779 made the supreme sacrifice that these United States may become a reality. Bela P. Bachkai
