HR0917 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  
 

 
HR0917LRB101 21962 MST 72972 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
  
2    WHEREAS, Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a Polish-Lithuanian 
3military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a 
4national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United 
5States; he built Fortress West Point, which he suggested be 
6used as the United States Military Academy, and  devised the 
7winning strategy for the Battle of Saratoga, which was the 
8turning point of the American Revolution; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Thaddeus Kosciuszko fought to free the white 
10indentured peasants of Europe;  he stood up for the rights of 
11enslaved Africans, Native Americans, Jews, women, and many 
12others; and
  
 
  
13    WHEREAS, Thaddeus Kosciuszko set aside his salary from the 
14American Revolution with instructions that it be used to 
15purchase and free slaves and that money be left  to provide for  
16their education and for the  purchase of land, cattle, and 
17farming tools for them so 
they could support themselves in our 
18free country; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The U.S. Army has 10 bases named after confederate 
20officers, such as Braxton Bragg, who were traitors and declared 
21war on the United States; therefore, be it
  
 
  
 
 
HR0917- 2 -LRB101 21962 MST 72972 r

1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
2HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
3we urge the U.S. Government to rename Fort Bragg as Fort 
4Kosciuszko in honor of Thaddeus Kosciuszko; and be it further
  
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
6delivered to the President of the United States, the U.S. 
7Senate Majority Leader, the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, the 
8U.S. Speaker of the House, the U.S. House of Representatives 
9Minority Leader, all members of the Illinois Congressional 
10Delegation, and the Kosciuszko Foundation.