Fraternity-Testvériség, 1992 (70. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1992-04-01 / 2. szám
Page 18 TESTVÉRISÉG THE 17TH ANNUAL HUNGARIAN FESTIVAL in NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY The standard bearers are at attention: the grand marshalls stand proudly, bedecked with satin ribbons; representatives of churches and organizations are lined up in the order of march; a team of fencers joins the line-up; and young girls dressed in Palóc costumes run to take their places. The air is heavy with expectancy and with the aroma of pecsenye, langos, palacsinta, and kolbász emanating from the many food areas with steamy pots and smoky grills. Groups of people lean over the vendor tables examining embroidered blouses, Herend porcelain, and Hungarian-stamped T-shirts. Small puddles of water are reminders of the daylong torrential rain of the day before. But now the sun is shining. It’s 11 a.m. and as the bells of the churches clustered in the neighborhood simultaneously ring out, the parade begins while crowds gathered at curbside applaud the marchers. The festival has begun! The 17th Annual Hungarian Festival in New Brunswick, New Jersey, sponsored by the Hungarian Civic Association (HCA), was held on Saturday, June 6, 1992. This annual event is held in the area of the twelve participating churches and organizations on Somerset Street in the Hungarian sector of this so-called “Most Hungarian City in the United States”. (40% of Hungarians in the U.S. live within 60 miles of New Brunswick.) The event benefits the churches and organizations in the HCA coalition. The 17th Annual Hungarian Festival was not only a celebration of Hungarian heritage but also one that promoted diplomacy and trade. Officials from Hungary who attended a trade fair and symposium held at Rutgers University in New Brunswick on June 4, were also present at the festival. The trade fair: “Trade 2000 - Developing Hungarian Business Partnerships - Doing Business with and through Hungary” was part of the sister-city program involving New Brunswick and Debrecen, Hungary. The American Hungarian Coalition also capitalized on the festival setting for their annual meeting, with Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan serving as chairman of the board of directors. This year the festival was a salute to the two national Hungarian fraternal organizations: The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA) and the William Penn Association (WPA). The parade, which stepped off at the Magyar Reformed Church moved along Somerset Street to the courtyard of the Hungarian Heritage Center (HHC) for the opening ceremonies. Honorary grand marshalls in the parade were Rev. Bertalan, president of the HRFA and E.E. Vargo, president of WPA. Joseph Arvay, chairman of the board of directors of WPA, and George Dózsa, vice presidentsecretary of HRFA were the grand marshalls. On the parade route the procession paused briefly to allow the marshalls to place a wreath at the memorial to the Hungarian Freedom Fighters on Somerset Street. During the traditional opening ceremonies, Yolan Varga, festival coordinator, gave the official welcome, and the Rev. Matt Thiringer, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, gave the invocation. Next, the courtyard resounded with the singing of both the American and Hungarian national anthems led by George S. Charles and Michael Kara of WPA respectively. Mayor James M. Cahill brought the greetings of the City of New Brunswick, and Mayor Dr. Joseph Hevessy, in turn, brought the greetings of Debrecen, Hungary. The dedication of a bronze plaque, a part of a commemorative tribute, sponsored by the WPA and the HRFA, to honor men and women of Hungarian descent who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces from 1776 to the present, followed the opening ceremonies. Among the participants in the dedication ceremonies were the following: Rev.Dr. Imre Bertalan, HRFA president, George Dózsa, HRFA V.P.-secretary; E.E. Vargo, WPA president; Joseph P. Arvay, WPA chairman of the board of directors; and August J. Molnár, president of the American Hungarian Foundation. Participating clergy included the Rt.Rev. Andrew Harsanyi, bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in HUNGARIAN FESTIVAL
