Fraternity-Testvériség, 2004 (82. évfolyam, 2-4. szám)
2004-07-01 / 3. szám
Page 12 Fraternity- Testvériség FELLOWSHIP CELEBRATION AT THE BETHLEN HOME By Pat Armel Rev. Torok and HRFA Board Members presenting a check to Rev. Bertalan The annual Bethlen Home Picnic was held on Sunday, July 18, 2004. The day began with a Worship Service conducted by Rev. Stefan M. Torok and assisted by the Rev. Ilona Komjáthy and the Rev. Imre Bertalan. The organist was Helen Rose. Then, everyone proceeded to the picnic area. The staff of the Bethlen Home prepared a delicious meal and Dorothy and Company entertained the crowd. Tours were given to the construction site of the new nursing facility. The HRFA presented a check JimSzuch(GolfChairman),Teri T Pflum and Joe Fabri presenting a tor $25,000 to the Capital check to Rev. Imre A. Bertalan Campaign. The Golf Committee made a donation from the proceeds of the Golf Tournament of $10,000. This will benefit the Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Department of the new nursing facility of the Bethlen Home. Many thanks to the staff and volunteers for their dedication and hard work. See you next year on Sunday, July 17, 2005! WREATH LAYING IN NEW BRUNSWICK Bv Kathy Megyeri On June 4, 2004, a sunny, spring day in New Brunswick, NJ, a wreathlaying ceremony was held at five stations along with the William Penn Association. Professor August J. Prof. Molnár of the American Hungarian Foundation began the 29th annual ceremony in the Hungarian Heritage Center courtyard around two flagpoles, one donated by HRFA and the other by William Penn. Molnár said, “This is part of our annual observance to lay these wreaths to honor Hungarians and to kick off a special day tomorrow when 15,000 people celebrate their heritage with art, music and food.” In attendance were HRFA President Rev. Stefan Torok and his wife, Cindy, CFO Leslie Megyeri and his wife, Kathy, Fraternal Coordinator Teri Pflum and her husband, Tibor, and Michael Pauli, member of HRFA’s Board of Directors. Representing William Penn were Board of Directors members Anthony Beke and his wife, Marguarite, and Frank and Elsie Radvanyi from Trenton, NJ. The first wreath was laid in the courtyard of the cultural center, and the second honored the memory of the Hungarian '56 Revolution at the comer of Somerset and Plum Streets. The original monument at that corner was built in 1981 on the 25th anniversary of the revolution. The third wreath was laid at the feet of the statue of Cardinal Mindszenty at St. Ladislaus Church. Mindszenty visited the area on two occasions, but CFO Megyeri particularly remembered 1973 when he attended. Cardinal Mindszenty, a diminutive man with a loud, booming voice addressed the crowd at St. Ladislaus Church for its rededication, and Megyeri recalled the enthusiastic response of the overflow crowd. The fourth wreath was laid in ... , , . the center of New Brunswick at Mindszenty photo taken in 1973, courtesy of Margaret the toot ot the Statue ot Sgt. Paul1 Major Frank Z. Molnár who won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Molnár was bom in Logan, WVA and became a staff sergeant with the US Army, 4lh Infantry Division. He died in Vietnam after throwing himself on a hand grenade which absorbed the deadly blast but resulted in saving his comrades. The final wreath was placed in the main lobby of the cultural center. HRFA Board Member Pauli concluded by saying, “This ceremony means a lot to me because of my parents who were born in Hungary. It’s a way to remember their teachings when I was a young boy because they gave me such a love for my heritage.” Fraternal Coordinator Teri Pflum said, “This is the first time I’ve attended these wreath laying ceremonies, and it’s a moving experience.” Her husband Tibor added, “It’s a most pleasant way to remember my Hungarian heritage.” Anthony Beke of William Penn echoed such sentiments, “This is a tribute to Hungarian Americans and a way to remember their heritage.” His wife, Marguarite, added, “It means that my two grandchildren, Kyra and Kyle, and their children can be proud of where they came from.” HRFA President Torok and CFO Megyeri then presented Professor Molnár with a check on behalf of HRFA for the continuing work of the American Hungarian Foundation’s mission.
