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10/23/2013 - 1956-2013: AHF hosts reception in Honor of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The event was held at the National Press Club on October 18, 2013. The Press Club's Holeman Lounge was filled to capacity. The guest speaker was Ferenc Kumin, Deputy State Secretary for International Communications, Hungarian Prime Minister's Office. Bryan Dawson, AHF Executive Chairman, served as Master of Ceremonies and would deliver the keynote address, "I am a Child of 1956." He recognized honored guests from the Hungarian Embassy, the Woodrow Wilson Center, the National Press Club, the US State Department, the Polish American Congress, the United States Information Agency (USIA), students from local universities and others.

[Click to view] the 1956-2013 video

Mr. Dawson opened the event with a collection of video footage from 1956 as they were aired to Western audiences during these fateful events. He introduced AHF President Frank Koszorus who reflected on 1956 and Hungary's national character which gave rise to many struggles for freedom and urged all to avoid "putting politics before history and by questioning the Hungarian nation’s commitment to democracy." Mr. Koszorus noted AHF's key role in assisting 1956 Refugees as they arrived in the United States:

"Their enormous sacrifice seemed futile [in 1956] but today it is universally recognized as having contributed to the ultimate demise of Soviet domination of Central and Eastern Europe and the restoration of constitutional democracy and independence in Hungary and the region. The American Hungarian Federation is an organization founded in 1906 which strives to unify our community. We honor the heroes of 1956 today as we did during those fateful days when AHF activated its Hungarian Relief Program, raised over $525,000 and, worked closely with the International Rescue Committee and others, to aid in the refugee resettlement effort.

[Download] Frank Koszorus' remarks

Since then, AHF has been committed to keep the memory of 1956 alive. As we contemplate the promise of Hungary 1956, we are reminded that that promise must never be forgotten or abandoned, as the heroes of 1956 deserve nothing less. That is why it is distressing to witness some abusing democratic ideals by putting politics before history and by questioning the Hungarian nation’s commitment to democracy.

One just needs to remember:  the Golden Bull issued 7 years after the Magna Carta in1222, which set forth the rights of all freemen; or the Diet of Torda in the 16th century which declared the equality of the Lutheran, Calvinist, Unitarian and Catholic denominations; or the Revolution of 1848 when Hungarians rose up against Hapsburg oppression with Lajos Kossuth, “champion of liberty,” at the helm of this struggle; or July 1944 when a Hungarian armored division blocked the deportation of more than 200,000 Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary; or 1945 when despite Soviet occupation, Hungarians resoundingly rejected the Communist Party and elected the Smallholders Party." [download Frank Koszorus' remarks]

Secretary Ferenc Kumin reflected on how heartening it was to see the continuing importance given to the anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, a subject that was taboo in Hungary under communism, and thanked the Federation, whose members include many 1956 Freedom Fighters, for holding the commemoration. He said a "new type of relations" has developed with Hungarian communities abroad, including the United States. "Hungary considers the diaspora Hungarians 'a natural part' of the nation." He expressed thanks to the United States for accepting the refugees from Hungary and added that the mere fact he could address members of the diaspora as the representative of a free and democratic Hungary was an achievement worthy of the ideals and hopes of the freedom fighters of 1956.

Bryan Dawson, whose mother was wounded fighting the communists in 1956, delivered a brief, but very personal keynote address entitled, "I am a Child of 1956" which reflected on the Hungarian character, the ingenuity and heroism of the Hungarian Freedom Fighter, and the revolution's effects on his own upbringing. He urged an end to petty partisan politics, resistance to false propaganda, called for a renewed focus on honest debate, and described the continuing oppression facing many communities worldwide including the ethnic-Hungarian communities living in the sucessor states in the Carpathian Basin, concluding "our work is not done."

[Download] Bryan Dawson's speech, "I am a Child of 1956."

"I am a child of 1956 not because my mother was wounded, risked her life, braved bullets, bombs, soviet tanks, land mines, communist secret police, red army troops and hid from flares on cold November nights as she escaped across the iron curtain…

Not because I heard mother’s stories of how she and her fellow Freedom Fighters would paint the underside of porcelain dishes in black shoe polish, placing them upside-down in the path of Soviet tanks which would stop to inspect these “land mines” only to open themselves up to a little Stalinist-named surprise: the Molotov cocktail…

Not because I am so deeply proud of her and Hungary for standing up to communist tyranny against odds so great, few have dared to attempt…

Not because of Hungary’s 1000-year history of democratic tradition and struggle to maintain her unique identity and her independence…

I am a child of 56 because in Anyuka’s tears… in her struggles & perseverance…in her scars, in her eyes that exuded the sort of wisdom none should possess - I learned freedom is not free.

I am a child of 56 because I learned that with freedom comes great responsibility. That to whom much is given, much is expected.

I am a child of 56 because I learned that we must never forget - never forget what my mother and thousands like her fought and many died for: freedom, liberty, pluralism, democracy.

While oppressed people around the world struggle for freedom, we are not free…

While human and minority rights of Hungarian minorities are violated daily at the hands of governments that had promised to respect and protect them - their only crime being Hungarians in lands they inhabited for 1000 years and where foreign powers changed the borders around them - we are not free…

In these days of increasing polarization and renewed false propaganda machines here at home and in Hungary designed to divide us, we owe it to those who died for our freedom to insist that we treat our precious freedom and each other with the utmost respect andstand together in humility with a zealous pursuit of the truth in thesame spirit of brotherhood soexemplified in1956 Hungary.

I am a child of 1956 because I am ready to fight; eager to speak up when democracy and human rights are threatened…

I am a child of 1956 because our work is not done – join me."

Sari Barczay, leader of the Hungarian Scouts of Washington, D.C., delivered a stirring rendition of Tollas Tibor's stirring poem, "Bebádogoznak Minden Ablakot" (They’ve Walled up Every Window):

Of life without, only this gleam was left, A tiny patch of stars, a glimpse of sun. In daily gloom, within dim walls bereft, We watched the vent for this as day was done. This too they stole, this streak of sunlight thin, The’ve walled up every window tight with tin. In memory’s eye, I mark the azure sea At Naples, and beside the shining shore Vesuvius waits and smokes. Can you, like me, See happy, sun-browned swimmers by the score? We live in night like men who blind have been: They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. Our ten mouths gasping for the missing air, Ten of us lie, in one close kennel pent, As fish-gills on the bank might gasp despair. To eat the food, which stinks of excrement, Our stomachs lack the power to begin: They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. From the bright fragrance of the Alpine peaks The west wind blows freshness of bouquets; Of virtue to the soul that distance speaks, And smiling summits swell the hymn of praise. But phthisis grips my cell-mate, dark as sin, They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. For us no more the steamer’s whistle blows; All maiden laughter from our sense is wiped; No pleasure in our ears sonorous flows; No summer plays an organ, myriad-piped. Our cells are deaf, all sound is dead herein: They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. By Barcelona, in a garden fair, The warm voice of a tawny woman croons; The streets are pied with dances here and there; A gay guitar gives dusk its tinkling tunes. Our leaden days flow silent in chagrin: They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. We probe in darkness towards the velvet skies As if within a coffin we were nailed, We only touch our rags and agonize Or, feel our hands by vermin-hosts assailed. We once caressed the sunlight, like soft skin. They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. There is a ball in London; like a rose A girl glides, in her silks, on floors that gleam; In all the bloom of lustrous hair she glows, Soft-mirrored in the vanished wainscot, like a dream. The West is dancing. Has it Magyar kin?| They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. Our tongues recall the pleasant taste of Spring Then swallow with a groan our morsel dank Whose fecal horror chokes its entering And turns our bellies sick, our reason blank; Yet even this our famine forces in. They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. Sleep locks our hungered bodies in its spell And there I sate a gourmet’s appetites On all that Paris offers -- see as well, Climbing above the city’s neon lights, The Silent Ghost – but here no dawns begin: They’ve walled up every window tight with tin. The radios shout hoarsely of new deals, Of freedom and of justice due to man, But here my dungeoned body only feels The million lashes of foul Moscow’s plan. From Vác to far Peking, his slaves make din: “Beware! Beware! Or through the entire world They’ll wall up every window tight with tin.” (Translated by Watson Kirkconnell)

Az életből csak ennyi fény maradt, Csillagos ég, tenyérnyi napsugár. Ezt vártuk nap-nap, homályos falak Üregéből esténként-délután. S elvették ezt is, a tenyérnyi napot: Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Tágult szemekkel kék tengerét látom Nápolynak, s fénylő partjai felett Még vár a Vezúv, pipál és a tájon Barnára lesült boldog emberek. Látjátok? Éjben élünk, mint vakok, Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Tízen fekszünk egy fullasztó szűk lyukba', A szánk kapkodja be a levegőt, Mint partra vetett halak kopoltyúja Tátogunk némán – s érzed, nincs erőd Szívni az étel s ürülék szagot: Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Az Alpeseknek fenyves illatából Míg csokrot küld a hűs nyugati szél És lelket öblít fenn a tiszta távol S mosolygó hegyek hószaga kísér, Itt tegnap társam tüdőbajt kapott, Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Csendet hasít a sétahajó kürtje. A falon sikló leánykacagás Nem visszhangzik már zengőn a fülünkbe S az ezersípú nyár nem orgonáz. Süket a cellánk, minden hang halott, Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Túl Barcelona kertjein szitálva Egy barna asszony meleg hangja búg És alkonyatba pendül a gitárja. Hol táncolóktól tarka még az út; S fülünkbe folynak az ólmos napok... Bebádogoznak minden ablakot. Tapintanánk a bársonyos egekbe, Ujjunk hegyéből kiserken a vér. Mint koporsóba, be vagyunk szegezve, Csak daróc szúr, vagy poloska ha ér. Simogatnánk a sugaras napot – S bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Londonban bál van, sima termén siklik A sok selyembe öltözött leány. Puha hajuknak hamvassága izzik Lágy bútoroknak tükrös hajnalán. Nyugat táncol – tán végképp eladott?! ... S bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Nyelvünket mosta friss tavasz zamatja Most nyögve nyeljük nyirkos kortyait Az alvadt bűznek, hol minden falatra Émelygő gyomrod felfordulna itt. De lenyeljük e végső falatot: Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Az éhség marta testünket telt álom Lakatja jól – és ínyenc ételek Ízét kínálja Párizs – szinte látom, Hogy kúszik el a neonfény felett A Néma Rém – s nem lesz több hajnalod ... Bebádogoznak minden ablakot! A rádiók csak üvöltsék rekedten A szabadságot s az ember jogát. Itt érzi csak befalazott testem A milliókkal Moszkva ostorát. S Váctól Pekingig zúgják a rabok: – Ha nem vigyáztok, az egész világon Bebádogoznak minden ablakot! [Watch Tibor Tollas recite his poem] at Seattle University in 1986. Courtesy Steve Szablya (MAGYARUL)

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[< Back to the 1956 Page]

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. We must never forget and always honor their memory.

New Videos 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 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 magyarul]

AHF'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 |

4/28/2006 - 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. 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.
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.
Special thanks to Frank Kapitan for taking the lead in getting the resolution passed! [download]

Virginia.
Special thanks to Laura Spinner for her leadership in getting Gov. Kaine to issue this proclamation!

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 Fighters [download]

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

In Memoriam

11/15/2005 - 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. Despite many death threats and being shot in the leg during "Loyalty Day" parade in New York City, George was undeterred in his efforts to bring freedom to Hungary and comfort to refugees.
[read more about George Haydu]
or see [All Memorials]
--------------

5/19/2005 - Gergely "Bajusz" Pongratz, a leader and hero of Hungary's anti-communist revolution of 1956, has died at age 73.

Pongratz suffered a heart attack on Wednesday in the southern Hungarian town of Kiskunmajsa where he lived, said Dezso Abraham, secretary general of the World Council of Hungarian 56ers revolutionary veterans group. During the revolution, Pongratz was commander of one of the key resistance groups fighting the Soviet army. [read more].
--------------

12/10/2004 - 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.

Born in Iglo, Hungary (now Slovakia) in 1914, Mr. Szeredas was both witness to and active participant in the turmoil sweeping over Europe for the balance of the 20th century. [more]

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.

Albert 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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