His remarks came on Thursday during a ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
Speaking at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on the Kościuszko Mound in the southern Polish city of Kraków, Rose highlighted the shared values that have united Americans and Poles for 250 years, mentioning freedom, sovereignty, faith, family, and dedication.
“If you ask Americans who Kościuszko was, they’ll say he was an American born in Poland,” said Rose. “We think of him as a Pole by birth, an American by choice.”
Rose praised Poland’s resilience, calling it an inspiration to the world, and argued that the essence of America is its openness.
“Anyone from anywhere can come and become an American," he said.
“It is an honor to be here on behalf of a president who loves Poland,” Rose said, referring to Donald Trump.
He added that he hopes Trump himself may one day visit the Kościuszko Mound.
The event underscored the deep historical ties between the two nations, analysts said.
Piotr Dobosz, head of the Kościuszko Mound Committee, said that Tadeusz Kościuszko is a hero shared by both Polish and American histories.
An early-19th-century portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko by painter Kazimierz Wojniakowski. Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The mound, built between 1820 and 1823, stands as a tribute to “one of the world’s greatest freedom fighters.”
The US Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, asserting the right of the 13 American colonies to break free from British rule.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP