 5/26/2009 - AHF Celebrates more than 100 Years of Service to the Community... The American Hungarian Federation (AHF) celebrated its more than 100 years of service to the Hungarian American community with a magnificent Gala Ball at the Hungarian American Athletic Club in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
 A capacity crowd of over 250 people from all walks of life, listened to heartrending patriotic recitals, and beautiful renditions of the American, Hungarian and Transylvanian (Szekely) national anthems. A unique collection of Hungarian songs and poems donated by Maczo Laszlo of Ber were played  throughout the evening. The theme of these wonderful pieces and the evening was,“the future will only be beautiful, if theMagyar nation unites.” Six awards for lifetime contributions to the Hungarian and American Hungarian communities were given, including long overdue recognition of Gabor Bodnar, a legend in worldwide Hungarian scouting.
 The gala program began with a moving candlelight ceremony signifying the eternal flame that unites American Hungarians with Hungarians throughout the world. AHF Chair Akos L. Nagy then explained AHF's mission to represent Hungarian-Americans in the US and help allHungarians, particularly those whose cultural, collective and humanrights are being violated in countries torn away by the Treaty of Trianon.After the playing of the national anthems,Rev. Attila Kocsis, Reforme d Minister of Perth Amboy, gave the invocation and thanked all those in America who gave of themselves in service to Hungary over the past 100 years and prayed for the successful continuation this wonderful organization.
 In his welcoming remarks, AHF President Attila Micheller asked for unity among Hungarian American organizations, and entreated young people to join AHF to ensure the future of the entity.
Mr. Nagy then asked Co-President and Vice Chair Gyula Balogh, to introduce overseas guests and read their greetings. Mr. Balogh also issued a plea for all Americans, regardless of political party, who have Hungary at heart, to work together to help revitalize the country. He then read a moving letter, from the former Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban (which Mr. Balogh brought from Hungary).
 Mr. Orban’s letter said in part, “What is the unified voice, the feelings that stir hundreds and thousands of people, which at once makes their hearts throb, moves their hands and feet and makes them hold their heads high? …Nothing else but faithfulness… as in the AHF headline “over 100 Years of Service”, and in your motto…”Fidelissimus Ad Mortem (Faithful unto Death)”. …Faithfulness to your country…which protects your
nation. Faithfulness to your family, which protects your children, faithfulness to your word which protects your honor, faithfulness to your friends which protects your inner self”…
 Mr. Balogh then introduced Ms. Baba Silvia, Executive Director of the Magyar Kultura Alapitvany (Hungarian Cultural Foundation) on Castle Hill in Budapest. She described the patriotic theme of the foundation as giving a home to various cultural and educational programs which benefit the Hungarian nation, and invited all to visit.
The evening then continued with Ferenc Koszorus, Jr, Chair of AHF’s International Relations Committee and Co-President, reading a moving congratulatory letter form Geza Jeszenszky, Hungary’s Foreign Minister (1990 – 1994) and Ambassador to the US (1998 – 2002). Dr. Jeszenszky also eloquently touched on the theme of the gala by noting that “Hungarian immigrants to America realized one hundred years ago that their interests would only be served if they united, and that is why  they organized the American Hungarian Federation.” He not only recognized AHF’s leadership in uniting its community in the past, but Dr. Jeszenszky also emphasized the role AHF can play in forging a united voice relating to the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin.
Mr. Koszorus summarized AHF’s current initiatives in educating decision and opinion makers about issues of concern to the Hungarian American community, including the situation of the Hungarian minorities in countries neighboring Hungary, who were relegated to the status of second class citizens when the punitive Treaty of Trianon ignored the vaunted principle of self-determination and transferred one third of the Hungarian nation to the newly created or enlarged Successor States of Rumania, Yugoslavia and Slovakia. He highlighted AHF’s steps in addressing the untenable and discriminatory Slovak language law and how unity within the Hungarian American community was needed now to achieve results.
 Sandor Murray (Murai), AHF Treasurer, followed with a request to support the Kazinczy Museum in Satoraljaújhely in Hungary. Mr. Nagy concluded with the need to preserve our strong Hungarian identity and pass it on to future generations, by strengthening American Hungarian institutions, and to help the US government in promoting democracy and economic progress in Hungary and minority rights for Hungarians in the neighboring countries. The dinner blessing was then given by Roman Catholic priest, Father Istvan Csete.
 After dinner, a lovely cultural program was introduced by Thomas Hilberth, AHF counsel and member of the Board, and the primary organizer of the gala. The program included: the poem O Bujdoso Szekely, recited by Karpatia; writings about Grof Albert Aponyi, Karoly Gesztesi, Ferenc Herceg, recited by Vizy Gyorgy; and a work about Karoly Kos, recited by Pal Oberfrank. Excerpts from the works of Sandor Csori and Albert Wass were read as well. A lovely youth dance program followed by a Connecticut dance group, which included: Nanassy Lydia, Melinda; Mihok Peter, Erik and Monika.
 The formal part of the evening was concluded by the presentation of awards for service to the Hungarian and the American Hungarian communities. The recipients included: Gabor Bodnar, a legend in the Hungarian Scouting movement  both in the US and post-communist Hungary (posthumous); Kalman Magyar, the American Hungarian who contributed the most of any person to advancing the folk-music and folk-art of  Hungary in the US; Father Ivan Csete for his efforts in visiting rural parishioners and caring for the poor in New York; Judit Kerekes for her Hungarian community work in the Passaic area and the annual Hungarian Summer College program held in Pennsylvania;  the reknowned artist Gabriella F. Koszorus-Varsa for her more than 50 years of disseminating Hungarian culture and history through her works of art; and Emery and Charlotte Ihasz for their community work in Connecticut.
The Papp Tivadar Orchestra from New York and Farkas Andras from Canada provided uplifting American and Hungarian. AHF thanks all who supported us (Orban Thank you- read here and Jeszensky Thank you - read here).
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Selected photos below are courtesy of W8 Photography, Alex Rodriguez, Owner, and event photographer Nicole. For the entire collection and to order reprints, please visit http://w8photography.printroom.com and go to "Event" gallery and choose "Hungarian Ball." The password is: 100 Years
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
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| [Read the press release in Hungarian/Magyarul]
The American Hungarian Federation® (AHF) (Amerikai Magyar Szövetség / AMSZ), an all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1906 in Cleveland,
Ohio. The largest Hungarian-American umbrella organization in the United
States, AHF is also among the oldest ethnic organizations in the country.
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."
Over the past 100 years, AHF's mission has broadened to include support
of people of Hungarian descent on both sides of the Atlantic and in the
successor states of the Carpathian Basin. 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 its member organizations and the Hungarian
American community.
The 1907 Kohányi Szózat (Appeal)
“Amerika egy millió magyarja, nemcsak hogy követeljük, de keresztül is visszük azt, hogy Magyarország népének ugyanabban a szabadságban, ugyanabban az igazságban, ugyanabban a jólétben legyen resze, mint a mely szabadság, igazság, es jólét abban az Amerikában van amelynek lakósai, polgárai vagyunk.”
“We, America’s 1 million Hungarians, do not just demand, but will work to ensure that the people of Hungary may partake in the same freedom, the same justice, the same prosperity as we, citizens of America, partake.”
- Kohanyi Tihamer, AHF President, 1907
AHF 100 YEARS DISPLAY
(click on each image for a larger version)
AHF in the Beginning:
1906 and
Budapest's
George Washington Memorial
[read more]
AHF and the "Justice for
Hungary" movement calling
attention to the tragedy
of Trianon
[read
more]
AHF, Tibor Eckhardt, and
the "Free Hungary Movement"
seeking to extract Hungary
from
the Axis sphere
[read more]
AHF Honoring our
Heroes
at the Arlington
National Cemetery
AHF and the Kossuth
Bust in the US Capitol
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Rumania
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Vojvodina
and the MÁÉRT movement
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Carpatho-Ukraine:
The Divided Village of Szelmenc
AHF relief efforts during WWII
AHF relief efforts during
the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
Key Dates in Hungarian-American Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic relations between Hungary and the United States were formally established in 1922, although unofficial contacts have been present ever since the War of Independence. Colonel Commandant Michael Kováts, a Hungarian nobleman is regarded as the founder of the American Cavalry, and was one of the first heroes to lay down his life for American independence near Charleston, South Carolina. Friendly relations between the two nations were further enhanced through Lajos Kossuth’s visit to the United States in 1851 – whose bust is one of the few foreign nationals present in the Capitol Rotunda. Kossuth was the second foreign national – after the Marquis de LaFayette – ever to be given the honor of speaking before a joint session of Congress. |
