eNews 6/17/2006, The American Hungarian Federation

AHF NATIONAL NEWS

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany 6/16/2006 - AHF outlines key issues in Open Letter/Nyílt Levél to Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsány (in English and Hungarian). The Federation decided to publish this letter because it has watched with growing concern how the Medgyessy / Gyurcsany governments ignored or failed to adequately address several key issues – economic reforms, support for families, aspirations of Hungarian minorities in countries neighboring Hungary and voting rights.

The opening reads:

"The American Hungarian Federation is a one-hundred-year-old umbrella organization that represents a cross-section of the Hungarian American community. It has for decades monitored the situation of the Hungarians, including the historic Hungarian communities living as minorities in states neighboring Hungary. This letter is written on the occasion of Hungary’s 5th democratic election since the demise of communism and the restoration of Hungary’s sovereignty." [read more in English]

"Az Amerikai Magyar Szövetség olyan százéves ernyoszervezet, amely az amerikai magyarság széles köreit képviseli. A Szövetség évtizedek óta figyelemmel kíséri a magyarság helyzetének alakulását, a határon túli történelmi magyar kisebbségi közösségeket is ideértve. Jelen levél a magyar szuverenitás helyreállítása és a kommunizmus összeomlása utáni ötödik szabad magyar választások alkalmából íródott." [tovább magyarul]

6/13/2006 - Yugoslavia: Then and Now. The Washington Times publishes AHF letter to the editor. "Jeffrey T. Kuhner observes that Yugoslavia is dead ("Yugoslavia, rest in peace," Commentary, Thursday). Actually, Yugoslavia was stillborn. Even as it was being cobbled together as part of post-World War I peacemaking, Croats (and other nationalities) resented Belgrade's domination..." [read more]

6/8/2006 - "Trianon Binds No One Except Hungarians," AHF Issues Statement on the 86th Anniversary of the Trianon Tragedy. Hungarian American communities join in protest. AHF's Assoc. President Frank Koszorus, Jr., writes, "Montenegro’s declaration of independence from Serbia on June 3, 2006, is but the latest nail in the coffin of the long-crumbling, outdated and superseded post-World War I peacemaking, including the Treaty of Trianon. Arguably the most severe of all the post-World War I settlements, one is struck by how ephemeral the artificial progeny of the ill-conceived Treaty of Trianon really was. Two of the new states cobbled together by the victorious Entente “peacemakers” at Versailles ceased to exist years ago, and even part (Moldova) of the third successor state succeeded to gain its independence it never had before. Ironically, the winds of change that swept through the region and rearranged the old Cordon Stalinaire after 1989, left untouched the very people who have suffered the most under a punitive treaty – the thousand plus year old indigenous Hungarian communities living under the rule of states that are mostly different from those stipulated at Trianon 86 years ago...Even as Montenegro declares its independence and Kosovo’s status remains on the front burner, Budapest appears content to sit on the sidelines and conspicuously refrains from espousing the democratically expressed aspirations of autochthonous Hungarian minorities for autonomy in Vojvodina, Transylvania, Slovakia and Karpatalja (Ruthenia)." [read more]

Additional AHF Resources on Vojvodina and Transylvania:

Transylvanian Monitor #14: Property Restitution.
AHF Rumania page
AHF Property Confiscation in Rumania Page
AHF Vojvodina Page (tovabb Magyarul)
AHF and the The Szabadka Initiative

6/8/2006 - President Bush to Visit Hungary for the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. The White House released the following statement: "President Bush will visit Budapest, Hungary for a bilateral program on June 22, 2006, following his participation in the U.S.-European Union Summit in Vienna, Austria. In Budapest, the President will celebrate Hungary’s historic sacrifices in the name of freedom by commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, underscore the success of the U.S.-European partnership in securing freedom in the region, and highlight the lessons offered from Hungary’s successful transition from tyranny to free-market democracy..."

On July 28, 2005, AHF and member organizations spearheaded a letter urging president Bush to visit Budapest only after national elections for the commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian revolution...

“By attending the commemoration of that historical event that made the Kremlin tremble, the United States would affirm its recognition of the tremendous sacrifice of Hungarians and other Central and Eastern European nations in restoring their freedom and independence and of their serving as models for new democracies elsewhere in the world today,” the letter read.

The document was signed by AHF National, AHF of Washington, D.C., the William Penn Association, the Hungarian Reformed Federation, the Hungarian Club of Colorado, and Eva Szorenyi of the Freedom Fighter's Federation. [download the letter]

[read more] about AHF's 1956 activities.

6/6/2006 - AHF pursuing resolutions commemorating 1956 in all 50 states! Ohio and Colorado follow Texas in adopting the Resolution and congratulating the American Hungarian Federation on its 100th anniversary. AHF's 1956 Commemoration Committee announced a nationwide effort urging state houses and governors to adopt resolutions honoring the heroes of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Texas became the first state to adopt the resolution. Ohio and Colorado were next. Special thanks to the Hon. Péter Ujvági, Ohio State Representative (D) who successfully pushed the resolution through both state houses and Jeno Megyessy for introducing a joint resolution that also makes Octbober 23, 2006 "Hungarian Freedom Fighter's Day" in Colorado!

The Houston Chronicle published an Op-Ed calling attention to our resolution. We need your help! AHF is calling on all to promote this important effort! How can you help? [read more]

5/29/2006 - AHF Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. About 40 members and guests which included representatives from NATO, both the US and Hungarian military, Hungarian American leaders, and representatives from the Hungarian Embassy witnessed the Memorial Day ceremony. Arlington National is the final resting place for a number of Hungarian American Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Following the program that included a roll call in honor of those in present and past military service and a presentation on Hungarian and American military traditions, the group proceeded on a walking tour of 8 additional Hungarian American gravesites scattered throughout the sprawling grounds.

Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi, AHF Executive Committee Chair (seen here placing the AHF commemorative ribbon on the grave of Capt. Akos Szekely who died a hero's death in Vietnam), wrote, "Most special to me was that our commemoration had such a unique historical perspective... A perspective that gave us a deeper understanding of the noble depths of the Hungarian military tradition - a tradition that so many families carried on and one we must honor by remembrance...[With the descendants of Gens. Asboth and Kozlay there with us] We literally touched history - a history across generations, centuries, and continents..." See additional photos, information on the Hungarians buried at Arlington National, and highlights of this very special event >> [read more]

Table setting at the AHF May Gala Fundraiser to benefit the Washington Hungarian Scouts and the AHF 1956 Fund. Each table was named in honor of an Hungarian-American military hero for the upcoming Memorial Day commemoration. 5/20/2006 - The Hungarian May Ball in Washington raises funds for the Hungarian Scouts of Washington and AHF 1956 Fund. Proceeds of the evening went to the Bátori József Hungarian Scout Troop of Washington and to support a series of AHF events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the Hungarian historical communities living in the countries neighboring Hungary. Honorary Chairs included Hungarian American community leaders and Congressmen Tom Lantos, Daniel W. Lipinski, Thaddeus G. McCotter, and Frank R. Wolf. [read more]

5/20/2006 - AHF continues call for support of a 1956 Statue for the Nation's Capital...AHF's 1956 Commemoration Committee is seeking your help to erect a statue in Washington, D.C. devoted to the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution. The AHF plan calls for an actual-size statue to be placed prominently in Washington while we raise funds for its bronze replacement. Seen here with his prototype design is renowned sculptor Gyuri Hollosy, who was responsible for the Boston Liberty Square memorial. At the recent Capitol Reception honoring 1848, Congressman Tom Lantos mentioned his intent to place a 1956 memorial in Washington. We must ensure this remarkable design is selected! Contact bryandawson@americanhungarianfederation.org and join the 1956 Commemoration Committee!

Continuing news - AHF providing free Websites on the 1956 Portal (www.hungary1956.com) to member organizations as they prepare for the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.If you know of any organization or group planning events for the commemoration of 1956, please contact us. The American Hungarian Federation is sponsoring the 1956 Portal as part of its goals to coordinate and assist member organizations across the country.

The 1956 Portal serves as a central information resource for 1956 activities as our community prepares for the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. The Portal also includes Audio and Video files! If you have additional photos or have plans you would like to promote, contact us! Write to bryandawson@americanhungarianfederation.org

[See www.hungary1956.com]

Featured Videos

Note: You will need the free RealAudio Player to see these videos. Click [here] to download.

"Five Days of Freedom in Budapest" - "Budapest is in revolt. With uncontrolled fury, crowds set fire to Russian flags... The impossible has happened. A handful of heroes has shaken the communist world to its foundations." (5.2 Mb)

2/27/2006 - New Video posted to the 1956 Portal! "News Magazine of the Screen" presented "Flight from Hungary" in early 1957 featuring video taken after the brutal Soviet re-occupation. "This is battered Budapest under the brutal Russian boot, Soviet tanks roam the streets under the ruins they laid as communist secret police hunt down heroic Freedom Fighters. 25,000 Hungarians are dead." A fascinating video, it also includes news about the Suez Crisis and more glimpes into life during this time.

A new book by Rebecca McEldowney and an article by Attila Ürményházi in Tasmania were also added to the publications section.
[See www.hungary1956.com]

Continuing news - A Centennial Celebration! The American Hungarian Federation turned 100 - Join and help us represent the interests of our community! The American Hungarian Federation (AHF), was founded in 1906 in Cleveland, Ohio. Among the oldest ethnic organizations in the US, AHF was established as an association of Hungarian societies, institutions and churches to "defend the interest of Americans of Hungarian origin in the United States." The American Hungarian Federation strives to unite the American Hungarian community through work that supports common goals. AHF is a national, non-partisan, independent umbrella organization representing the interests of the Hungarian American community. Members are reminded to send dues before March 31st. [more about us]