Merbs Honored at Capitol Hill Ceremony

March 18, 2008

Charles Merbs, professor emeritus of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, was recently honored in a Capitol Hill ceremony that recognized his efforts to identify the remains of American Revolutionary War hero Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski.

The ceremony, which was organized by the National Polish Center, took place on March 6 in the Rayburn House Office Building and was attended by several members of the U.S. Congress, high-ranking military officials and members of the Polish embassy. Merbs was presented the prestigious Pulaski Award by Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio).

The day before the ceremony, Merbs gave a presentation on his findings, which strongly suggest the skeletal remains exhumed from the Pulaski Monument in Savannah are Pulaski's. Debate about the final resting place of the "Father of the U.S. Cavalry" has persisted for centuries, with one faction believing he was buried at sea and the other insisting he was secretly interred ashore.

Rebecca Howe, rebecca.howe@asu.edu
(480) 727-6577
School of Human Evolution and Social Change