PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An unsung hero of the American Revolution got his due on Monday in a special ceremony in Washington Square.
Several dozen people gathered at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolution to honor Haym Salomon. The Jewish businessman emigrated to the colonies shortly before the Declaration of Independence was signed and helped finance the Revolutionary War and the new nation.
Malcolm Lazin of the Equality Forum said Salomon’s faith in the new government was never rewarded.
“Salomon died as a pauper, leaving a wife and four children penniless,” he said. “He was buried without a marker, several blocks from here, in the Mikveh Israel cemetery.” His grave was unmarked for years before his grandson purchased a headstone.
As a Jew, Salomon never even got the right to vote, and he is largely forgotten by history. Lazin said he felt it was important to honor him in this semiquincentennial year.
“The nation was founded in diversity, and its strength has always been in diversity,” he said.
