Sarasotai Magyar Hirmondó, 2006 (12. évfolyam, 2-10. szám)

2006-03-01 / 3. szám

THE MESSENGER

Newsletter of the Kossuth Club March 2006. Vol. 12. No. 3.

1956-2006—Half a Century. On February 13 in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the Department of State, Washington, DC, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with members of Congress, the diplomatic corps and clergy to commemorate “the Hungarian people’s journey toward freedom.” She welcomed and recognized the “many proud Hungarians present who witnessed and shaped the events of 1956.” She spoke in glowing terms about the 12 days of freedom in October 1956 and about the heroic fight of the Hungarian people for independence and democracy. She emphasized that 50 years later, from the vantage point of history, 1956 was the beginning of something greater, and that the Hungarian Revolution revealed for the first time the true character of the Soviet regime. Secretary Rice concluded her remarks with assurances that the United States values “our Hungarian partners” in the common mission of ensuring freedom at home and defending freedom abroad.

Christenings in Sarasota. Following the February ecumenical service the Rev. Péter Pál Bodor baptized four new arrivals into our Hungarian community: three babies and an older boy. It was a joyous, festive and rare occasion indeed! After the christenings Vera Heller and the Gémesi brothers, Benjamin and Timothy provided the program. Members of the parent-teacher association of the Wass Albert Hungarian School served the refreshments.

Our Program in March. You are cordially invited to our program on Thursday, March 23 at 4:30 PM in the Selby Public Library (1331 First Street, Sarasota). March is the month when Hungarians recall and pay homage to the 1848-49 War of Independence, when the poet Petőfi wrote his National Song, when under the leadership of Lajos Kossuth the Hungarian nation rose against the Habsburg Empire and dethroned the Emperor. Our keynote speaker, Beáta Nagy recalls the recruitment of volunteers by Kossuth in the city of Cegléd to fight for freedom and independence. Students of the Wass Albert Hungarian School under the direction of Gertrude Szilágyi will provide the program.

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