On October 10, 2026, community members, historians, and heritage representatives gathered at the Pulaski Monument in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, to commemorate the town’s Revolutionary War defense and honor the contributions of General Casimir Pulaski, Colonel Michael Kováts, and Pulaski’s Legion.
Organized by the Affair at Egg Harbor Historical Society, the commemoration connected local history with America’s ongoing 250th anniversary observances. The program included public discussions, an educational program for elementary and middle school students, and a solemn ceremony with flag lowering and wreath laying.
The event underscored that Little Egg Harbor’s significance extended far beyond the battlefield. The port served as an important maritime link for the Continental Congress, with warehouses, ship-fitting facilities, and furnace works supporting the Revolutionary cause. Its destruction would have threatened valuable infrastructure and resources at a critical moment in the struggle for independence. By defending the harbor, Pulaski’s Legion helped protect an essential part of America’s wartime network.
The Legion’s October 1778 defense was a demanding campaign spanning more than 100 square miles. Responding from over 60 miles away, the Legion confronted a superior British amphibious force through rapid movement, coordinated cavalry and infantry operations, and innovative tactics. The Legion’s counterattack drove the enemy into retreat. The Legion’s defense ultimately thwarted the British expedition’s strategic objective of advancing to the Batsto ironworks.
The campaign demonstrated the leadership and military expertise of Pulaski, Kováts, and their fellow European officers, who trained and led American soldiers into battle. Their ability to forge an internationally diverse unit into an effective fighting force made Little Egg Harbor an important example of foreign-born patriots’ contributions to American independence.
Richard Varga, Vice President of the American Hungarian Federation, attended the commemoration. Letters of acknowledgment from both the Hungarian and Polish embassies affirmed the enduring international connections represented by the Legion’s service.
The occasion also offered a moving reminder of the personal ties between Americans and Hungarians. Attendees shared memories of Hungarians they had known growing up, including sons and daughters of refugees from the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. These conversations connected the Revolutionary generation’s pursuit of liberty with the experiences of Hungarians who later found refuge and a new home in the United States.
Among those in attendance was New Jersey Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf, representing the 9th Legislative District and a former mayor of Little Egg Harbor.
Looking ahead, organizers expressed hope for an even larger commemoration in 2028, marking the 250th anniversary of the battle. The gathering demonstrated the continuing importance of preserving local Revolutionary history and honoring the people, both American-born and foreign-born, who helped secure the nation’s freedom.