Haym Salomon Statue Re-Dedication in Los Angeles

Haym Salomon Statue Re-Dedication

Councilmember LaBonge with dignitaries, city officals and guests at the Rededication of the statue of little-known Jewish American Haym Salomon, a hero of the Revolutionary War.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Academy-Award winning actress Shirley Jones, comic actor Marty Ingels and the Jewish War Veterans of America re-dedicated the statue of Jewish American financier of the Revolutionary War, Haym Salomon.

The statue was dedicated in its fourth home since it was originally erected in Hollenbeck Park in 1946. It followed the migration of the city’s Jewish population from Boyle Heights to mid-City to the Fairfax District. It honors a Jewish patriot and friend of George Washington who raised $3.5 million for the Revolutionary War, and lent the United States government about $600,000 as well.

“I’m happy that this statue of an American patriot is now in a position of honor at the entrance to Pan Pacific Park,” the Councilmember said at the June 12th event. “I hope that by moving this statue and re-dedicating it here, we can bring greater recognition to Mr. Salomon as an important Revolutionary War hero.”

Ingels and Jones, who are husband and wife, are putting together the financing for a feature film about the Polish-born Salomon, who died young and became an obscure historical figure despite the pivotal role he played in the Revolution.

“His story reads like J.D. Rockefeller and Errol Flynn, from Poland to England to America, getting rich along the way, a staunch Revolutionary, making his way up to George Washington’s right hand,” said an enthusiastic Ingels. “And, nobody knows his name!”

Debby Rolland, Metro Region Superintendent for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, said her staff repainted and restored the 25,000-pound cement statue after it was moved to its current location. Rabbi Daniel Bouskila provided the invocation, Tenor James O’Sullivan sang the national anthem and the Jewish War Veterans of America Post 617 led the Pledge of Allegiance. Click here for the Channel 35 story on this event.