Fraternity-Testvériség, 1998 (76. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1998-01-01 / 1-2. szám
FRATERNITY Page 9 CELEBRATING MARCH 15™ at the KOSSUTH HOUSE “The judge of the universe, history, will decide over this question. Should the saintly remembered martyrs be hallowed in their ashes, in their spirit with the highest blessings of the Lord of Liberty and through eternity; I can not pay my sympathies to the ashes of the Hungarian Golgotha, but October 6 will find me on my knees in this reclusive home of exile, as I open my arms to my disowning homeland. With gratitude’s faithful sentiments, I bless the martyrs' sacred memory for their faith in their homeland and for the sublime example they left to their heirs: with ardent prayer I beg the God of Hungarians to make their appeal which echoes from the lips of Hungária to the Hungarian Nation. So be it, Amen !” (Turin, September 20 1890) On the 150th anniversary of the 1848-49 War of Independence and Revolution, Kossuth’s voice and spirit animated the wreath-laying ceremony at the Kossuth House, Home Office of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, Washington, D.C. On March 13, 1998, HRFA President George Dózsa greeted the commemorating guests and opened the floor to speeches from H.E. György Bánlaki, Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary; Rev. Imre Bertalan, Chairman of the Hungarian American Coalition and former President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America; Rt. Rev. Tibor Dömötör, Bishop, who was instrumental in placing the bust of Kossuth in the U.S. Capitol in 1990; and Mr. László Papp, President of the Western Region of the World Federation of Hungarians. Thanks to the initiative of Mr. Andrew Vadasz, the assembled guests were able to listen to a tape of Kossuth’s voice (prepared by Radio Budapest English section) as he spoke the following words: Snapshots of Kossuth’s tour in America were displayed in the form of a traveling exhibit, prepared at the request of the World Federation of Hungarians - American Chapter, and to contribute to the exhibit of the National Historic Memorial Park of Opusztaszer, Hungary, to pay homage to the jubilee event during its tour through Budapest, Debrecen and Sárospatak. The wreath-laying ceremony at the Kossuth plaque in front of the Home Office crowned the event. On behalf of the Federation, President George Dózsa, Secretary Endre Csornán, and Treasurer Suzanne S. Virgulák joined H.E. György Bánlaki and Hungarian Cultural Attaché Zsófia Trombitás in placing tricolor wreaths at the relief. L. to r.: Mr. László Papp, Mr. George Dózsa, H.E. György Bánlaki, Mrs. Zsófia Trombitás, Rt. Rev. Tibor Dömötör, Mrs. Suzanne S. Virgulák, Mr. Elmer E. Vargo, at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Kossuth House. L. to r.: Mr. Endre Csornán, Mr. István Toth, Rt. Rev. Tibor Dömötör, Mr. Frank Kapitány, Mr. László Papp, Congresman Tom Lantos, Mr. George Dózsa, Dr. Robert King, Dr. Kay King, Mrs. Tom Lantos, at the Kossuth bust, U.S. Capitol.
