A commemoration service was held in remembrance of Mihály Kováts, a Hungarian born hussar colonel who was killed in action during the American War of Independence, in the city of his birth, Karcag.

During her opening speech, Ambassador of the United States in Budapest Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis spoke of the fact that the 90th anniversary of the assumption of American-Hungarian diplomatic relations was celebrated just yesterday, but the story of Colonel Kováts is a fine example of the fact that ties between the two countries go back much further in history. Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, President of the local association for the commemoration of Mihály Kováts, stressed that the example of the soldier from Karcag also serves as an example to the modern age, that real human achievement, even if it happened hundreds of years ago, is always recognised by later generations.

"Mihály Kováts left his homeland for an ideal, the ideal of freedom. As the story goes, when he found out that the American War of Independence had broken out, he wrote to Benjamin Franklin, Ambassador to France of the thirteen North American territories that signed the Declaration of Independence, and offered his help for the fight" – recalled the Ambassador. "Having arrived in America, the Hungarian military man organised and trained the first cavalry unit, leading them into battle personally. On May 11 1779, he lead a cavalry group to South Carolina to recapture the city of Charleston from the British when he was mortally wounded at the age of 55", she continued, adding that on hearing the story of Mihály Kováts, she immediately felt that it was her duty to take part in the commemoration service in Karcag.

"The soldier from Karcag, who had a remarkable career, achieved a feat worthy of remembrance. He made his way to America and made good there too. Over 200 years ago, this feat was even more noteworthy", said Sándor Fazekas. He also noted that in America, the Hussar colonel was often involved in clashes that were regarded as being impossible to win, but he always undertook the fight with the tenacity and dynamism typical of Kumanians.

A Fellowship for the commemoration of Mihály Kováts was formed in Karcag in 1991. It was then decided that a remembrance service would be held every year, starting in May 1992, and that they would name of the local schools after Mihály Kováts. In 2004, the Hungarian Historical Association in Cleveland donated a statue of the Hussar officer to the Greater Kumanian city. The statue, which was placed in the primary school named after him, is a miniature version of the work which can be found in the garden of the Hungarian Embassy in Washington.

(MTI / Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)