As America celebrates its 250th birthday, it is fitting to remember the importance of the Declaration of Independence. This document, the men who crafted it, and those who fought for it changed the world. Rightly, most of the nation’s attention will be focused on the “A list” Founding Fathers. Occasionally, however, great heroes fall through the cracks of history. Such is the case for Thaddeus Kosciuszko (TAH-deh-oosh  KAWSH-choosh-kaw). His contributions to the American cause during the Revolution were critical to the patriots’ success, the birth of the United States and Dublin, Ohio!    

    Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a Polish engineer who came to America in 1776 to help with our fight for independence. He had no other reason to come to the British colonies other than his love for freedom and his desire to see liberty spread. He quickly became invaluable to the patriot cause. He helped win the Battle of Saratoga for the Americans. This key victory gave the French the green light to help the Americans, which in the end turned out to be paramount. Thaddeus Kosciuszko also designed the fortifications at West Point, New York. His handiwork can still be seen in the U.S. Military Academy. George Washington then assigned Thaddeus Kosciuszko to the military campaign in the South. His engineering skills proved invaluable there as well.  These are just a few of his accomplishments during the war. It would have been hard for the U.S. to emerge victorious without him. 

    After the American Revolution, soldiers were given land in the Ohio territory as payment. The amount a soldier received was based on his rank. Thaddeus Kosciuszko was given 500 acres on the eastern side of the Scioto River. Today this land runs from Hard Rd to the Columbus Zoo. Kosciuszko never came to Ohio to claim his payment. Instead, at the conclusion of the war, Thaddeus Kosciuszko returned to Poland and fought for liberty there, engaging in battles with the Russians for many years. However, most of the soldiers who were given land did come to settle the Ohio territory. They helped create the state of Ohio in 1803. Today, the city of Dublin has Thaddeus Kosciuszko Park on the site of his promised land. It is a wonderful park to enjoy nature and learn the amazing history of an essential engineer of the American Revolution.

    Shawn Kaeser’s 8th grade Social Studies classes at Grizzell Middle School are working with Ohio lawmakers to bring attention to Thaddeus Kosciuszko, his role in the American Revolution, and his life spent fighting for freedom. When Mr. Kaeser reached out to lawmakers, Representative Brian Lorenz from Delaware County was eager to help. He introduced House Bill 539 in the fall of 2025. This bill makes February 4th (Kosciuszko’s birthday) officially “Thaddeus Kosciuszko Day” every year in Ohio. This spring and summer, the students are planning on lobbying lawmakers and testifying before the House Government Oversight Committee. The goal is to get the bill signed into Ohio law before July 4th. It will need to be passed by both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. Then it will be sent to the governor for his signature. 

    Mr. Kaeser believes this is a great opportunity to educate, appreciate, and celebrate the vital role Thaddeus Kosciuszko had in American history and the founding of Dublin. It is also a great chance for students to have a hands-on civics lesson and a way for students to leave their mark during America’s 250th birthday celebration. He is planning other events for Grizzell Middle School to celebrate as well, including having students bury time capsules to be unearthed in 2076, and planting a “Liberty Tree” (oak tree) on campus this spring. It truly is a great time to embrace the epic birthday of our nation!