Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1944 / Verhovay Journal

iMhouayJournal

VOL. XXVII. MARCH 10, 1944 NO. 10

MARCH 15th~FREED0M DAY

It is related that the Hungarians sprang from an Asiatic tribe many centuries ago, from two brothers named Hunor and Magyar, sons of a great warrior, Menrot. History credits the two brothers with many valorous deeds. Legends tell us that Hunor wakened one morning and saw a beautiful white stag grazing in the nearby fields. He gave it chase, but the animal always managed to go beyond his reach. Finally, Hunor and his brother, Magyar, together with a few hunters, followed the stag until it led them into a fertile new country far to the west. Here Magyar and his men stayed, while Hunor pressed on further west until he came to the land bordered by the Carpathian Mountains. Here he subdued the nations of this country and took possession of the land. His son, Attila, swept over Europe like a scourage.

Centuries later, the descendants of Magyar, under the leadership of Almos and his son, Arpad, followed the Huns into the land of the four great rivers, Drava, Duna, Szava and Tisza. Thus were descendants of Hunor and Magyar united again in one country; today known as Hungary.

The life of the ancient Magyars was colorful. They fought marauding invaders who sought to wrest the rich land from them- Through 'ne centu-ies they battled against the Tartars and other nations that wanted to take possession of their beautiful country.

While the life of the peasant was filled with many hadrships and heavy work, which he had to perform in order to exist, nevertheless he took the time to create many works of art. Whittling became a favorite pastime of . the lonely shepherd while tending huge flocks on the great plains. Today this practice is still carried on, even young boys learn how to whittle beautiful objects of wood. Many of the old works of art can be seen in the various museums today. These are highly prized, for they show the Oriental trend of the early Magyars.

The women of the ancient Hungarians embroidered much and their colorful costumes are ample proof of the fine work they made. In some villages today these richly-embroidered dresses are still worn by the peasantry, which have been handed down through generations; some consider these costumes as heirlooms-The Magyars were always great lovers of freedom. They wanted nothing more than to live their life in peace on the plains, in the villages, or in the towns that nestled close to the mountains, or that were built near the rivers so long ago. Many times their freedom was threatened, and each time they rose to defend their liberty against great odds.

This spirit was evidenced by Louis Kossuth, Hungarian patriot, who in 1848 led the insurrection to free his people of tyranny and oppression. Francis Deak, another patriot, secured the restoration of Hungarian autonomy; he represented the Diet before the legislative assembly to procure the power, right

or condition of self-government with nominal subordination.

Today, Hungary's freedom is gone. The Nazis have invaded her country and forced her under their yoke, under threat of being completely subjugated, as had been the countries which Nazism

has over-run. Hungary fears her country, too, will be laid waste, as are the occupied countries of Europe today. Under extreme pressure she has been forced to humble herself before the onslaught of the Nazis; she is no longer free, the liberty of her

Naming of “Flying Ambulance”

The above is the letter which Mr. Morris Cukor, of the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Department, in New York, wrote our Supreme Secretary, Mr. Coloman Revesz, informing him that there will be a “flying ambulance” named in honor of Pfc. John Nagy, United States Marine, of Prudence, W. Va., who gave his live for the Allies, at St. Thomas, in the Virgin Islands, December 21, 1942.

The purchase of this “flying ambulance” was made possible by the increased buying of War Bonds by the coal miners since January 1st, 1944. By the end of the Fourth War Loan Drive, the miners had purchased enough Bonds to pay for the “flying ambulance”.

Above also is published the telegram which Mr. Revesz sent to Mr. Cukor, of the Hungarian American Committee, of the U.STreasury Department, in which he accepted the invitation to attend the presentation ceremony with thanks.

The parents of Pfc. John Nagy will be present during this ceremony. They feel deeply the loss of their beloved son, but rejoice that the “flying Ambulance” will be named in honor of their loyal son, who died gallantly that others may live in a free world. Mr. Andrew Fay Fisher, Editor of the Miner’s

Journal, who started this movement together with the Verhovay F. I. Ass’n, will also be present at the ceremony, which will take place at the Kossuth Monument, New York.

The Supreme Officers of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association will be present during the naming of the “flying ambulance.”

.--------------v------*-------TREASURY

DEPARTMENT

WAR FINANCE COMMITTEE NEW YORK

1270 Sixth Avenue New York City Circle 6—3100.

March 3rd, 1944

Mr. COLOMAN REVESZ, Verhovay Fraternal Ins- Ass’n. 345 Fourth Avenue,

Pittsburgh, 22, Penna.

DEAR Mr. REVESZ;

Please accept sincere congratulations upon the glorious result outlined in the letter of March 1st.

Your desire concerning the name for the flying ambulance will be complied with. The presentation ceremony will .take place on March 19th at 2 P. M., Kossuth Monument, Riverside

Drive and 113th Street, New York City. We will certainly be delighted to have a representation of your organization and the parents of the deceased soldier.

With most cordial personal greetings,

Very turly yours,

Hungarian American Committee

U- S. Treasury Department 1270 Sixth Avenue,

New York, 20, N. Y. Morris Cukor, Chairman

MC:RA

WESTERN UNION

March 4, 1944

MORRIS CUKOR, Chairman Hungarian American Committee U. S. Treasury Department 1270 Sixth Avenue New York, 20, New York.

PLEASE ACCEPT OUR THANKS FOR YOUR LETTER. PARENTS OF “PFC JOHN NAGY”, FAY FISHER, EDITOR OF THE MINERS’ JOURNAL, AND WE WILL ATTEND DEDICATION CEREMONIES IN NEW YORK ON SUNDAY, MARCH 19th at 2 P. M. KOSSUTH MONUMENT.

VERHOVAY F. I- ASS’N REVESZ, SECRETARY.

MOTHER

Here in the stalag as days pass by,

I’ve got time to recall, to think, to sigh I remember the days when I used to cry And to your open arms I’d fly;

I remember, too, when just a lad How many times I made you sad;

I remember all this but still I’m glad

In the heat of battle I had no guide;

My friends, my buddies either wounded or died;

You never taught me to run and hide,

So I fought it out with you by my side; The day is near when home I’ll go,

To those I knew so long ago;

Because you’Te the swellest mother a guy I’ve learned so much from friend and foe; ever had. - Yes, now I know why I love you so.

—T./C.P.L. Joseph Egyud, P.O.W.

NOTE: The above poem was written by Cpl- Joseph Egyud, who has been a prisoner of war in Germany since Dec. 1942. He is permitted to write a letter to his mother once in every four months, so he wrote the above poem to her in January, 11944. He is a member of Branch 345 and formerly made his home with his mother, at 172 Baker Street, Aliquippa, Penna.

subjects is ended.

Hopefully Hungary looks with yearning eyes toward the Allies and in her secret heart prays that soon the United Nations will conquer the ruthless invaders and liberate her from the Nazi yoke. For when the victory is won by the Allies, it will mean that Hungary, too, will share in the peace, for she is tired of being a vassal to Hitler’s whims and demands.

Hungary wants peace above all else—peace for the world and peace for her country. She wants the old freedom which her valiant patriots fought so gallantly for in the past. She desires to go back to her former peaceful life —yet not back to the old life entirely, for to do that would mean retrogression; but to start from the time when her freedom and peace were taken away and continue from there on, for Hungary is progressive. Her subjects want no more wars, they are ill of wars and bondage, having had too much in the past.

The Hungarians of today want their country to be once more in a state of tranquillity, so their country can flourish among the nations of the world as a peaceful nation. The people want to take up their own way of living once more—each man to work and earn and prosper as in the old days. The peasant wants to raise his wheat on the great plains without the fear of having the invading Nazis take his crops and leave him starving. He desires nothing more than to take up his work again, in freedom, to which every human being has a divine right; for if a country would be prosperous and its people happy, the subjects must be free of the fears that threaten and endanger their liberty. The Hungarians do not want to be subservient to Hitler.

When the Allies have completely subdued the forces of Nazism and freed all Europe of Hitler’s power, Hungary will rejoice to see freedom reign throughout the world. Then, as in the past, before the invasion of the conquering forces of Nazism, Hungarians will again celebrate March 15th as Freedom Day, the day on which Alexander Petőfi declared the proclamation which liberated them from tyranny and oppression in 1848. For to the Hungarians, March 15th is similar to the 4th of July of Americans.

The loyal Americans of Hungarian descent are hastening the day of victory for the United Nations by doing all they can to bring about the peace. There are

5,000 members of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association alone who are in the U. S. Armed Forces; while those on the home front are investing all they can in War Bonds. It is an all-out for completely victory, and the Allies will see to it that the bell of liberty will soon ring throughout the world; then all nations of the earth will take part in the celebration of a new and glorious World Freedom Day.