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In Memoriam


Rev. Imre Bertalan. Jr. delivering the invocation at a 2005 Board meeting of the American Hungarian Federation.9/1/2017 - AHF and the entire Hungarian-American community mourns the loss of a great Hungarian and great American, Rev. Imre Bertalan, Jr.

Former AHF board member, Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, 67, of Ligonier, died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. He was born Oct. 4, 1949, in New Brunswick, N.J., son of the late Rev. Imre G. and Margaret Kosa Bertalan. [read more]


Geza Cseri, Father, Grandfather, Husband, Engineer, US Army Veteran, AHF member, patriot, was born to Joseph and Mary Cseri on June 3, 1936 in Cegled, Hungary.US veteran12/10/2015 - Geza Cseri, Father, Grandfather, Husband, Engineer, US Army Veteran, former science and technology advisor to NATO, AHF member, patriot, was born to Joseph and Mary Cseri on June 3, 1936 in Cegled, Hungary. He lived in the town of Abony along with his older brother, Zoli. They enjoyed a comfortable home with orchards and vineyards until they had to flee in September of 1944 due to advancing Russian forces. His family relocated to the most western part of Hungary, near Pozsony - Bratislava, and from there to Germany and eventually France where they became refugees. Geza was 9 years old. [read more]


The Kossuth sculpture was unveiled by the sculptor, Csaba Kur of Youngstown, OH10/21/2009 - AHF mourns the loss of another great Hungarian, sculptor, humanitarian. Csaba emigrated to the United States during the Hungarian revolution against Soviet occupation in 1956. His sculptures and monuments can be seen the worldwide. The American Hungarian Federation commisioned a bronze bust of Lajos Kossuth and presented it to U.S. Congress.To celebrate and commemorate the friendship and shared values between the people of the United States and those of Hungarian descent, AHF commissioned a bronze bust of Lajos Kossuth and offered it to U.S. Congress. The dedication ceremony took place on March 15, 1990, Hungarian National Day, under the magnificent dome of the Capitol Rotunda. The bust is one of only two honoring non-Americans in the Capitol. The base reads, "Louis Kossuth, Father of Hungarian Democracy." He was an AHF Board member and was the beloved husband of the late Marta (nee Ruzicska); dear father of Martha (James) Brooks of GA; grandfather of Noah and Adam Brooks; and brother of the late Zsuzsana.


AHF Mourns the Loss of the Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan, minister to our community, voice of unity, President Emeritus of the American Hungarian Federation and former board member of the HRFA, the Hungarian American Coalition, and the American Section of the World Alliance of Hungarians.7/10/2008 - AHF Mourns the Loss of the Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan, minister to our community, voice of unity, former President and Chairman of the American Hungarian Federation, President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA), and representative of the American Section of the World Alliance of Hungarians. Rev. Bertalan passed away on July 10, 2008 at his sister's home in upstate New York. He was 90 years old. [read more]


AHF President Attila Micheller honoring Gabriella Koszorus-Varsa  with AHF's highest award, the Col. Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom for "her lifetime accomplishments and dedication to the preservation of our Hungarian heritage." Heralded as a master of portraits, figure compositions, as well as sculptures.3/17/2007 - Great Painter, Sculptor and Hungarian, Gabriella Koszorus-Varsa passes away in her home in Washington, DC. Heralded as a master of portraits, figure compositions, as well as sculptures, Ms. Koszorus-Varsa's depiction of the charge of the cavalry during the battle of Charleston in ``Fidelissimus ad Mortem'' is a magnificent master work and hung in the US Capitol and was displayed at the AHF Congressional Reception in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. In 2007, she was honored with AHF's highest award, the Col. Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom for "her lifetime accomplishments and dedication to the preservation of our Hungarian heritage." A supporter of AHF for many decades and responsible for the design of some AHF stamps during its 1956 relief efforts and beyond. [read more]


Mozsi Ferenc11/6/2007 - AHF mourns the loss of Mózsi Ferenc, author of thirteen volumes of poetry. He was born in Budapest. He left Hungary in 1970 and lived for a time in Belgium pursuing literary studies at the Catholic University of Louvain. In 1974 he moved to the United States and founded and edited the Hungarian critical and artistic review Szivárvány. At the 1984 World Congress of Poetry in Marrakech, Morocco, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Poetry. Ferenc Mózsi lived in Chicago and owned Sebok Travel Services.


Imre Gazda, President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Magyar Cultural Circle passed away on Friday August 31st, 2007 at the age of 648/31/2007 - Imre Gazda, President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Magyar Cultural Circle passed away on Friday August 31st, 2007 at the age of 64 after a brief but courageous battle with laryngeal cancer..

Imre was born February 1, 1943, in Hungary and spent his childhood in Mezokovesd and Eger, Hungary. He went to university in Russia and received a master's of engineering degree from the I.M. Gubkin Moscow Institute of Oil and Gas Industry in 1965. [read more]


Dr. Jean Dobos,Ph.D., wife of AHF Board Member Frank Dobos, passed away on August 6, 2007.8/6/2007 - Dr. Jean Dobos, Ph.D., passed away on August 6, 2007. Jean was born on November 21, 1939 and is survived by her loving husband, AHF Board Member Frank Dobos. She graduated from Holy Name Elementary and High School and received her B.S. from Notre Dame College, Master's Degree from Cleveland State University, and Ph.D. from Ohio State. She was a retired Assistant Professor at Cleveland State and Kent State where she loved her research and advising her thesis and dissertation students. An avid gardener, Jean looked forward to the Hudson Garden Club's annual flower sale where she volunteered. She enjoyed playing the saxophone and clarinet in the Bonita Springs Village Band in Florida and with the Two Generations Band in Brimfield. Mass of Christian Burial and reception were held on Saturday, August 11, at St. Emeric Catholic Church in Cleveland.


Dr. Paul J. Szilagyi, 2006 recipient of The Colonel Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom from the American Hungarian Federation, passed away on June 9th, 20076/9/2007 - AHF mourns the loss of Dr. Paul J. Szilagyi, Father, Professor, Nagypapa, AHF Leader, and Hungarian Freedom Fighter...

Dr. Paul Szilagyi, passed away suddenly, June 9th, of a heart attack at the age of 71. We will miss his unique humor, wisdom, and precious, colorful life. His extreme humility left much of his past hidden, even from me. I do know Paul was a "Pesti Srac" (Kid from Pest), young Freedom Fighters during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The communist regime declared the family "enemies of the state," because of their name, so he was not allowed to enter the Technical University for chemistry despite his high marks on the entry examinations... [he] would become the only Hungarian American to complete his Ph.D. under the tutelage of Dr. George Olah, Nobel Prize Winner and fellow Hungarian with whom he would go on to publish a number of scientific papers. "Dr. Szilagyi" would become an expert in organic chemistry, but few know that he also has numerous patents for his biomedical inventions. One of his first patents was a groudnbreaking vascular prosthesis, marketed as the "Szilagyi Woven Graft." He also invented a process to biocarbon coatings to improve prosthetic implants and aid in the ingrowth of bone. [read more]


George Haydu's Memoir11/15/2005 - AHF President Emeritus, Entrepreneur, Freedom Activist, and 1959 US "Citizen of the Year," George K. Haydu, passed away after long illness. The death of this great humanitarian and leader is a major loss for the Hungarian-American community and to all his many friends.

With the Soviet crackdown on the ill-fated Hungarian Revolution, George Haydu was commissioned by the Governor of New Jersey in October 1956 as the civilian Commander of the Hungarian Refugee installation at Camp Kilmer, NJ. George Haydu and Ambassador Bang Jensen, a diplomat accredited to the United Nations from Belgium, received death treats from the Hungarian Secret Police if they went ahead with testimonies about the atrocities of the Soviets and Hungarian Stalinist Communists in Hungary. Both refused to comply. Ambassador Jensen was shot to death in New York's Central Park, but Haydu continued to lead anti-Kadar demonstrations in New York City in response to the execution of Prime Minister Imre Nagy, General Paul Maleter and others. Haydu was eventually shot in the leg at the October 1957 "Loyalty Parade" in New York City. [read more]


Gergely Pongratz5/18/2005 - Gergely "Bajusz" Pongratz... One of the youthful rebel leaders of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was Gergely Pongratz (Bajusz or "Moustache" was his nickname). He and his four his brothers were heavily involved in the organization of the revolt and fighting and their names were known to the Soviets. Under his command, the Corvin Passage fighters destroyed at least a dozen Soviet tanks, and resisted several waves of assault. Following the conflict, the Pongrátz brothers escaped capture and by 1957 had moved to the United States along with their two sisters. Gergely returned to Hungary in 1990. With his own money, he established the '56 Museum near Szeged. The Pongratz Gergely - "Bajusz"museum is filled with memorabilia of the revolt--- a Russian tank, flags, maps, newspaper articles, photos of the Freedom Fighters (both survivors and those killed in battle or later hanged), maps, and a large assortment of the weapons used in the 1956 revolution. Chairman of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters' Association [read more]


Szeredas12/10/2004 - JENO SZEREDAS, 90, Hungarian Freedom Fighter Federation Founder, AHF Member, and Noted Artist Dies...

Jeno Andras Szeredas, Hungarian political activist and Senator, 1956 Freedom Fighter, Founder of the Freedom Fighters Federation in the United States, poet and artist of rare talent died quietly in his sleep at his daughter's home in Connecticut on November 30. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday. [read more]

 

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AHF produced a video showing a collection of footage from 1956 as they were presented to Western audiences during these fateful events
[Click to view] the 1956-2013 video
The 1956 Hungarian Revolution was the first tear in the Iron Curtain. Hungarians from all walks of life rose up against insurmountable odds to fight the brutal Soviet installed Hungarian communist government. Thousands died fighting, others tortured and executed, while 200,000 were forced to flee. 2006 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.

1956 Video: "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 roams 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. Lyukas Zaszlo - AHF Honors the Heroes of the 1956 Hungarian RevolutionNew Video posted to the AHF 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. [See all our Videos]

On October 22, 1956, a group of Hungarian students compiled a list of sixteen points containing key national policy demandsOn October 22, 1956, a group of Hungarian students compiled a list of sixteen points containing key national policy demands. They were read at the foot of the General Bem statue, a Polish hero of the 1848 War of Liberation, in solidarity with the anti-communist demonstrations in Poznan, Poland. Following an anti-Soviet protest march through the Hungarian capital of Budapest, the students attempted to enter the city's main broadcasting station to read their demands on the air. The students were detained, and when people gathered outside the broadcasting station to call for their release, the state security police fired on the unarmed crowd, setting off the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Click the picture to read the 16 points!
Read more / Tovább: [angolul angolul magyarul magyarul]

Time's Man of the Year: The 1956 Hungarian Freedom FighterAHF's work regarding the tragic events nearly 50 years ago, dates back to the early days of the revolution and thereafter assisting tens of thousands of refugees. In 1956 the American Hungarian Federation activated the second Hungarian Relief program for the refugees of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, providing $512,560.00. With the support of the American Hungarian Federation, over 65,000 refugees arrived in the USA. Get involved and help us continue our tradition of helping our community! Join Us!

Downloads:

  • The Hungarian Revolution - Uprising, Budapest 1956: A synoptic treatise of a major political event of the 20th Century, a historically tragic period in the life of a nation commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Revolution and the fallen brave By: Attila J. Ürményházi (Hobart, Tasmania) and edited by
    Bryan Dawson-Szilágyi [download]

States that have passed the 1956 Revolution 50th Anniversary Resolution:

| Texas | Ohio | Colorado | Maryland | Virginia |
| Massachusetts | Minnesota | Washington | California | South Dakota |

Texas became the first to pass the American Hungarian Federation's 1956 Resolution honoring the Hungarian Revolution4/28/2006 - Texas became the first state to adopt the AHF 1956 resolution (House Resolution 75). AHF extends sincere thanks to Texas Senator Janek and Representative Woolley for introducing the measure and to AHF's Texas Chapter President Chris Cutrone in Austin and Honorary Consul for Hungary Phillip Aronoff in Houston for their efforts in securing the introuduction of the resolution. The resolution's title: "Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and recognizing the sacrifices of Hungarian Freedom Fighters, the contributions of Hungarian Americans, and the friendship between the people and governments of the United States and Hungary." Full text of the Texas resolution can be found on the Texas House Website.

The Houston Chronicle also published an Op-Ed calling attention to the resolution by Hungarian Honorary Consul Phillip Aronoff in Houston and Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi, AHF Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Ohio was second to pass the American Hungarian Federation's 1956 Resolution honoring the Hungarian RevolutionOhio. Special thanks to the Hon. Péter Ujvági, Ohio State Representative (D) who successfully pushed the resolution (#212) through both state houses. [download the resolution] Ohio Governor Taft also issues a proclamation [download]

Colorado passed a 1956 Resolution honoring the Hungarian RevolutionColorado.
Special thanks to Jeno Megyessy for introducing a joint resolution that also makes Octbober 23, 2006 "Hungarian Freedom Fighter's Day" in Colorado! [download]

Maryland was fourth to pass the American Hungarian Federation's 1956 Resolution honoring the Hungarian RevolutionMaryland.
Special thanks to Frank Kapitan for taking the lead in getting the resolution passed! [download]

Virginia was fifth to pass the American Hungarian Federation's 1956 Resolution honoring the Hungarian RevolutionVirginia.
Special thanks to Laura Spinner for her leadership in getting Gov. Kaine to issue this proclamation!

Special thanks to Hon. Consul of the Republic of Hungary in new England and the Massachusetts Hungarians!Massachusetts.
Special thanks to Hon. Consul of the Republic of Hungary in new England and the Massachusetts Hungarians! [download]

South Dakota State Legislature recognizes the sacrifices of the 1956 Freedom FightersSouth Dakota.
State Legislature recognizes the sacrifices of the 1956 Freedom Fighters [download]

Congratulations to the Minnesota Hungarians and thanks to the State Legislature for declaring "Hungarian Freedom Day."Minnesota.
Congratulations to the Minnesota Hungarians and thanks to the State Legislature for declaring "Hungarian Freedom Day." [download]


Links

  • 1956 Portal - www.hungary1956.com
  • The 1956 Institute, headed by Dr. Janos Reiner, is a great site devoted to exploring the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in English and Hungarian.
  • www.celebratingfreedom1956.org - The Cleveland Hungarian Revolution 50th Anniversary Committee (CHR50) is organizing a major observance event of this important historical milestone on October 21st and 22nd, 2006 in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Magyar Radio Online - includes many audio files and an analysis in Hungarian: "Ki húzta meg a ravaszt eloször 1956. október 23-án?" "Who was the first to pull the trigger?"
  • Time MagazineTime Magazine gave Hungarian Freedom Fighters the title "Man of the Year" on July 1, 1957. "The Freedom Fighters filled the empty bottles with gasoline and corked them with table napkins, making what they called 'benzine flashes."
  • www.FamousHungarians.com - offers information on 1956, the 1956 Olympics, the popular "Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians," resources on Trianon, Transylvania, History, Music, and more.
  • Wikipedia - the free, online encyclopedia that allows readers to manage its content!
  • The 1956 Institute in Hungary (1956-os Intézet)
  • The 1956 Hungarian Revolution Historical Documentation and Research Foundation in Hungary - a source for thousands of photographs from the period
  • The National Security Archive at The George Washington University provides a wealth of information on the 1956 Revolution available for download in PDF.
  • The 1956 Hungarian Revolution - a short chronology of events with pictures
  • Pal Maleter on Wikipedia - the military leader of the Hungarian Revolution
  • www.sulinet.hu has as site that transcribed many of the various speeches given before, during, and after the revolution - a fascinating chronology from Nagy to Mindszenty. (Hungarian)
  • Az 1956-os Magyar Forradalom igaz története - in Hungarian. "What the history books left out." Published by the 1956 World Federation.
  • Az 1956-os forradalom története Esztergomban - The Revolution in Esztergom (in Hungarian)
  • Arcok és sorsok - a great site with photos and biographies of some 1956 Freedom Fighters
  • Nagy Imre október 23-án: Nagy Imre október 23-án eleinte hallani sem akart arról, hogy a Parlamentbe menjen és szóljon a tömeghez. Ám mégis megtette. Döbbenetet érezhetett, amikor lenézett a Parlament ablakából, s akkor is, amikor kifütyülték az „elvtárs” megszólítást. Beszéde az alant álló ismeretlen erovel szembeni aggodalmát és szorongását mutatja.

Downloads:
  • The Hungarian Revolution - Uprising, Budapest 1956: A synoptic treatise of a major political event of the 20th Century, a historically tragic period in the life of a nation commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Revolution and the fallen brave By: Attila J. Ürményházi (Hobart, Tasmania) and edited by
    Bryan Dawson-Szilágyi [download]
  • US Postal Service 1956 Petition

Memorials Dedicated to 1956

"October 23, 1956, is a day that will live forever in the annals of free men and nations. It was a day of courage, conscience and triumph. No other day since history began has shown more clearly the eternal unquenchability of man's desire to be free, whatever the odds against success, whatever the sacrifice required."- President John F. Kennedy,
on the first anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.

  • Denver, Colorado - statue and "Hungarian Freedom Park"
  • Toronto, Ont - statue and park
  • Erie, PA - Memorial and square (Thanks to v. Juhasz Ferenc, AHF, VP)
  • Bridgeport - Statue
  • Fairfield, CT - Memorial plaque in Town Hall (2003)
  • Berkeley Springs, WV - plaque, cemetery, and church (TX to Mrs. 'Sally' Gyorik, Ft Vitez Baan OFP)
  • Boston, Mass - Liberty Square statue and square by George Hollosy
  • Los Angeles, CA - statue by Arpad Domjan (1966)
    (TX to Czene Ferenc and LA Hungarians)
  • New York - Plaque at East River/92d Str
  • Passaic, NJ - statue
  • Lorantffy House, Akron, Ohio 1956 - Plaque
  • North Olmstead , Ohio - Plaque and cemetery (Thanks to Dobolyi Arpad & Juhasz Ferenc AHF VP)
  • New Orleans, LA - plaque
  • Loraine, Ohio - Statue under construction
  • Miami, Fl - First Hungarian Church Stained Glass Windows
  • Camp Kilmer - plaque now in New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • Cleveland, Ohio - Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty statue and square
  • New Brunswick, NJ - Mindszenty statue and square
  • Miami - Mindszenty Str. (27th Str) NW (TX to Tarr Sandor, Honorary Consul)
  • Budapest - statue/plaque at the Chain bridge in Buda by Ocsay Karoly
  • Korvin koz - statue of the young freedom fighter
  • Eger - Memorial to 1956
  • Budapest, Prime Minister Imre Nagy Gravsite and Memorial
  • Budapest, Szena Ter
  • Budapest, II kerulet; Manheimer Statue
  • Budapest, XIII kerulet: Park of Statues: granite obelisk
  • Budapest, XIII kerulet: Park of Statues: Plaque of the martyrs (2000 Oct. 23)

Hungarian Freedom Park in Denver Colorado and its memorial to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution

The 1956 memorial in Toronto, Canada

Gyuri Hollosi's memorial to 1956 in Boston's Liberty Square

 

 

 

 

 

AHF's Lajos Bartucz at the Passaic NJ Memorial to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution

Stained Glass memorial to 1956 at Miami's First Hungarian Church of Christ

1956 Memorial in Eger, Hungary

The 1956 Hungarian Revolution Memorial at Szena Ter in Budapest

 


Albert CamusAlbert Camus' Stirring Letter to the World:

"The Blood of the Hungarians"

I am not one of those who wish to see the people of Hungary take up arms again in a rising certain to be crushed, under the eyes of the nations of the world, who would spare them neither applause nor pious tears, but who would go back at one to their slippers by the fireside like a football crowd on a Sunday evening after a cup final.

There are already too many dead on the field, and we cannot be generous with any but our own blood. The blood of Hungary has re-emerged too precious to Europe and to freedom for us not to be jealous of it to the last drop.

But I am not one of those who think that there can be a compromise, even one made with resignation, even provisional, with a regime of terror which has as much right to call itself socialist as the executioners of the Inquisition had to call themselves Christians.

And on this anniversary of liberty, I hope with all my heart that the silent resistance of the people of Hungary will endure, will grow stronger, and, reinforced by all the voices which we can raise on their behalf, will induce unanimous international opinion to boycott their oppressors.

And if world opinion is too feeble or egoistical to do justice to a martyred people, and if our voices also are too weak, I hope that Hungary’s resistance will endure until the counter-revolutionary State collapses everywhere in the East under the weight of its lies and contradictions.

Hungary conquered and in chains has done more for freedom and justice than any people for twenty years. But for this lesson to get through and convince those in the West who shut their eyes and ears, it was necessary, and it can be no comfort to us, for the people of Hungary to shed so much blood which is already drying in our memories.

In Europe’s isolation today, we have only one way of being true to Hungary, and that is never to betray, among ourselves and everywhere, what the Hungarian heroes died for, never to condone, among ourselves and everywhere, even indirectly, those who killed them.

It would indeed be difficult for us to be worthy of such sacrifices. But we can try to be so, in uniting Europe at last, in forgetting our quarrels, in correcting our own errors, in increasing our creativeness, and our solidarity. We have faith that there is on the march in the world, parallel with the forces of oppression and death which are darkening our history, a force of conviction and life, an immense movement of emancipation which is culture and which is born of freedom to create and of freedom to work.

Those Hungarian workers and intellectuals, beside whom we stand today with such impotent sorrow, understood this and have made us the better understand it. That is why, if their distress is ours, their hope is ours also. In spite of their misery, their chains, their exile, they have left us a glorious heritage which we must deserve: freedom, which they did not win, but which in one single day they gave back to us. (October 23, 1957)

AHF dedicates this work
to the memory of all our comrades who passed during those faithful days of October, 1956.

- Read this in German, Hungarian, French, and Spanish on this AHF member site, the [American Hungarian Museum]

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