On October 25, 2024, a new bronze memorial honoring Colonel Commandant Michael Kováts was unveiled at the Kossuth House in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was part of the “Kováts 300” event series, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Michael Fabriczy Kovats, the Hungarian-born father of the American cavalry. Michael Kovats was born in Karcag, Hungary, volunteered to fight in the American War of Independence and died defending the city of Charleston, South Carolina in 1779.
Dr. Zoltán Pintér, President of the Michael Kováts Friendship Society in Karcag, spoke at the event, highlighting the shared values between Hungarians and Americans:
“Mihály Kováts and other restless dreamers like him represent the profound love for freedom and unity that binds our two nations—far more than anything that divides us.”
The bronze memorial now graces the wall of the Kossuth Foundation’s headquarters in Washington, located in the heart of the U.S. capital at DuPont Circle. Dr. Sándor Végh, President of the Kossuth Foundation, remarked,
“This new relief is a powerful symbol, commemorating the pivotal role Hungarians played in the birth of America.”
Designed by Hungarian sculptor Sándor Györfi, the memorial features Kováts on horseback in a traditional hussar’s uniform, exuding vitality and strength. Positioned between existing memorials to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and Hungarian national hero Lajos Kossuth, the sculpture serves as a lasting tribute to Kováts’s contributions.
Michael Kovats Memorial by Sándor Györfi
The relief also incorporates an inscription in limestone at its base, reading “Faithful Unto Death,” a reference to Kováts’s pledge to support the American cause in a letter to Benjamin Franklin. The inscription underscores the deep ties between Kováts’s Hungarian military heritage and his commitment to the American Revolution. His uniform, complete with the traditional “csákó” hat and “dolmány” jacket, highlights the Hungarian cavalry tradition.
Kováts’s expertise was instrumental in shaping the Continental Army’s cavalry during the Revolutionary War. A trained officer in the Royal Prussian Army, he played a key role in organizing and leading cavalry units at a critical moment in the war, enhancing their effectiveness in reconnaissance and rapid response missions.
As part of the event, the Kossuth Foundation also renamed its second-floor conference room and library to the “Kováts Room.” The space now houses reproductions of two paintings of Kováts by Hungarian artist Sándor Bodó, as well as an original portrait by Hungarian painter Aurél Raskó.
In addition to the unveiling, the Society of the Cincinnati, America’s oldest civic organization, generously loaned an equestrian statuette of Kováts by renowned Hungarian sculptor Alexander Finta. The sculpture was displayed at the Kossuth Foundation for the duration of the ceremony, further enhancing the tribute to Kováts’s legacy.
The ceremony included the launch of a new bilingual book by historian Dr. Zoltán Pintér, which chronicles Kováts’s adventurous life and the challenges he faced while organizing the American cavalry.
Dr. László Örlős, International Vice President of the Michael Kováts Friendship Society, gave an engaging presentation on the Hungarian-inspired Pulaski flag, explaining that Kováts was the actual designer of the banner used by the Pulaski Legion. On behalf of the Friendship Society, Dr. Örlős presented the Kossuth Foundation with a newly commissioned replica of the red, white, and green flag with a particular significance for Hungarians who had fought against Turkish, Habsburg, German, and Russian oppression through centuries. The flag is now displayed in the Kováts Room.
Anna Smith Lacey, Director of the Washington-based Hungary Foundation, which sponsored many of the “Kováts 300” programs, noted that the ceremony marked a fitting opening to a series of events planned in Charleston and New York.
“We hope that today’s ceremony will inspire many other initiatives across the United States to raise awareness of the historic Hungarian-American friendship.”
The dedication ceremony was attended by representatives from American and Hungarian heritage organizations, as well as government officials, all of whom paid tribute to Mihály Kováts’s enduring legacy.
The tricentennial event series were organized by the Michael Kováts Memorial Committee (Michael Kováts Friendship Society of Karcag, Kossuth Foundation, the Hungary Foundation).
