IA 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 44 
Honoring the life and legacy of Frederick William Augustus von Steuben 
and recognizing his contributions on the 275th anniversary of his birth. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 26, 2005 
Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan (for himself, Ms. WATSON, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. 
FORBES, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. LARSEN of Wash-
ington, and Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania) introduced the following joint 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life and legacy of Frederick William Augustus 
von Steuben and recognizing his contributions on the 
275th anniversary of his birth. 
Whereas Frederick William Augustus von Steuben, popularly 
known as Baron von Steuben, was born on September 
17, 1730; 
Whereas Baron von Steuben, an experienced soldier in the 
Prussian army, offered his services in support of the 
American Revolution ‘‘to deserve the title of a citizen of 
America, by fighting for your liberty’’; 
Whereas Baron von Steuben joined General George Wash-
ington at Valley Forge in February 1778 where his lead-
ership in drilling and training the soldiers is credited
•HJ 44 IH 
with helping to hold together the American Army and 
transform it into a more effective and disciplined fighting 
force; 
Whereas on May 5, 1778, the Continental Congress ap-
pointed Baron von Steuben to the office of Inspector 
General with the rank of Major General; 
Whereas, as Inspector General, Baron von Steuben wrote 
‘‘Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops 
of the United States’’ (the Blue Book), which served as 
the basis for Army regulations for thirty years; 
Whereas Baron von Steuben’s services were indispensable to 
the achievement of American independence, after which 
he became an American citizen; 
Whereas, in honor of his contributions to the armed forces 
of the United States, one of the first nuclear powered 
ballistic missile submarines in the United States Navy 
was commissioned the U.S.S. Von Steuben (SSBN 632); 
Whereas Baron von Steuben’s legacy of promoting integrity, 
efficiency, training, discipline, and accountability in the 
United States military has earned him the title ‘‘Father 
of the Inspector General System’’ and served as a basis 
for the system of inspectors general established by Con-
gress for agencies of the United States Government; 
Whereas President William Howard Taft, at the dedication of 
the monument to Baron von Steuben in Lafayette Park, 
Washington, DC, on December 7, 1910, paid tribute to 
the contributions of German Americans who ‘‘played so 
prominent a part in the great growth and development of 
our country’’; 
Whereas the Congress of the United States authorized that 
a duplicate monument be presented as a gift by the peo-
•HJ 44 IH 
ple of the United States, and that, during the dedication 
on September 2, 1911, in Potsdam, Germany, the Amer-
ican envoy, Congressman Richard Bartholdt, presented 
that statue as ‘‘a token of the sincere friendship of the 
American Government and people for . . . the people of 
Germany’’; and 
Whereas Baron von Steuben remains an enduring symbol of 
German-American friendship: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
That the Congress, on behalf of the American people, hon-
ors the life and legacy of Frederick William Augustus von 
Steuben and recognizes his contributions on the 275th an-
niversary of the date of his birth. 
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