Fraternity-Testvériség, 1943 (21. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1943-02-01 / 2. szám
10 TESTVÉRISÉG Red Cross; for these facts and principles there are plenty of generous blood donors among us; for these facts and principles American-Hun- garians give happily of their time and effort in Civilian Defense. True, we are not doing more than our fellow-citizens, but let it also be said, that we are not doing a bit less than others. ■".... ■'■"■r.................. In conclusion I just want to say, that in this life-and-death struggle we are not in need of leaders from abroad. We are united, we have our leaders, we have our firm, established ideas, which we shall never and for no one give up! We stand on our platform strong and firm, because we know that this stronghold is piloted by our great leader, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. “THIS IS OUR HOME” Address by REV. CHARLES PAPP, So. Norwalk, Conn. Representing the American Magyar Reformed Minister's Association More than sixty years ago our fathers began a trek into a new world. They had heard much of the wonders of that world where men shared equally the opportunities for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They knew of the sacrifices of their kindred for the preservation of those ideals* which make America God’s Country. They knew of the valient struggle of Kossuth’s officers to presreve the Union of the American States. In this country they hoped to find the opportunities that liberty and equality present for achieving happiness. Their hope was not in vain. In these United States they gave their best in brain and brawn for the good of the country. Here their children were born and bred. This is their home. This is our home! To-day the way of life of this country is threatened. To-day there lives but one thought, one desire in us; one great determination; to give what we have and what we are in the service of our country, that those ideals which were the very breath of this country’e life may be preserved for generations yet unborn; that this “government of the people, by the people and for the people” shall not perish from the earth. BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT Prcpos)d by HON. MORRIS CUKOR of New York, adopted by the patriotic demonstration Mr. President — Honored Sir: At an imposing Patriotic Mass Meeting held at Bridgeport, Conn, under the auspices of the American Hungarian Federation of Washington, D. C. on January 31st, 1943, Americans of Hungarian origin pay homage to you, Sir, the great American, the outstanding humanitarian and the leader of the heroic forces of the United Nations fighting to implant, secure and maintain the Four Freedoms everywhere. No more earnest and expressive Greeting can be here conceived than the rededication by this assemblage and the hundreds of thousands of their compatriots to the supreme task of winning the valiant fight for the survival of democracy and the perpetuation of our priceless American heritage. In all humility we venture to note that it has been the high privilege of American Hungarians to contribute to the political, cultural, spiritual and material of our beloved conutry and the preservation of her institutions. Thus was it given to us to make modest return for the inestimable privilege of living as free men in a free land. With pardonable pride we recall the Hungarian bom American Revolutionary heroes: Count Francis Benyovsky who as Captain of Hussars fought through the entire Revolution and Col. Michael de Kovács, the brilliant Drill Master of Gen. Washington’s cavalry, who made the supreme sacrifice at the defense of Charleston on May 11th, 1779. Thenceforth in peace and in war have we given by act and deed and accomplishments to be worthy of our coveted American citizenship. Of record it is that the vast bulk of American Hungarians were solidly and faithfully for you and with you, Sir, at the time you first sounded the alarm and gave warning of the impending menace of the Hitlers, Mussolinis and Hirohitos and their mad lust for domination, and more than ever are we your loyal supporters and devoted followers. And now that the Republic faces the most imminent task in its history we here assembled, and through us all, our brethren throughout the Union, with all our hearts salute you, Mr. President, and solemnly and sincerely plede anew to our own United States “our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” This message would not be complete, Sir, without adding that we, Americans of Hungarian origin never lost faith in the common people of our ancestral land. As so graciously indicated in your message to Congress on June 2nd, 1942 the existence of a state of war between the United States and some of the continental countries, including Hungary, was not the desire of the common people nor was it of their making. Hitler’s demand, backed by brutal force, was inescapable. The good people of our native land realize that there can be no free Hungarian nation nor a democratic Hungary until Hitler is utterly crushed and his pagan, perfidious and unchristian ideology is swept from the face of the earth. They are convinced — just as we are — that only the complete, final and
