The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-04-01 / 4. szám
April, 1979 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 5 The late President, Franklin D. Roosevelt said, undoubtedly referring to Kováts: “Men of Hungarian blood, many of them exiles from their Fatherland, rendered valliant service to the cause of the Union, their deeds of selfsacrifice and bravery deserve to be held n everlasting rememberance”. o-o-o-o History remembered Kováts starting with the year of 1932, during the two Hundredth Anniversary of General George Washington’s birthday, when the Michael de Kováts Historical Society was formed, with the aim to strengthen American-Hungarian historical relations and establish the importance of our hero. May 11, 1932 — At the date of his heroic death a commemorative celebration was held in New York’s Central Park, when two trees were planted in his memory. Services were attended by Edward, Prince of Wales, King Albert of Belgium, General Pershing, to name a few dignitaries. 1939 — The New York Historical Society was presented by the Hungarians of America with a plaque, created by the Hungarian artist Alexander Finta, showing Kováts on a horse, with drawn sabre and the city walls of Charleston in the background. September 16, 1944 — The Western Pennsylvania American-Hungarian War Bond Committee sold nearly four million dollars worth of War Bonds, through its diligent efforts, and was awarded the privilege of naming a liberty ship launched at St. Petersburg, Florida. They named it “Colonel Michael de Kováts”. May 11, 1960 — New York City honored Kováts by naming a park after him — on York Avenue at the end of 92nd Street, next to Gracie Mansion (the mayor’s residence). May 11, 1976 — The City of Charleston and the Citadel, the Military Academy of the South, held a commemorative celebration on the anniversary of Kováts’ death. Some 185 Hungarians and Americans visited the grave marker of our hero. May 20, 1977 — 48 Generals and Admirals saluted Michael de Kováts as Founder of the U.S. cavalry during the annual Fifth Avenue (New York) Army Day parade and a reception at the Fifth Avenue Armory thereafter. o-o-o-o For close to a half century, our Historical Society and Military Order pays tribute to the founder and creator of the United States cavalry as a military combat unit; described by Kováts’ enemy, the British major Skelly, as “the best cavalry the rebels ever had . It is our sacred duty to give recognition to a man who sacrificed his life to a people he did not know and a country he had adopted as his own only a short time before. Portrait of Kováts: by Sándor Bodó
