Verhovayak Lapja, 1946 (29. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1946 / Verhovay Journal
September 11, 1946 __________ Verhovay Journal Page 7 Chureii and Verhovay Honor War Bead wars came to an end. You all know -that more than ten million (Continued from Page 6) thing for nothing. We merely want the right to live in our American communities the way we should, with a fair opportunity for everyone to make an honest living-” VICTORY WON BY ALL The Rev. Dr. Arthur Varady, then spoke: “We came to pay tribute to the fallen members oi the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, who is presenting these portraits to their bereaved kin. By this act the Verhovay expresses our sentiments, that we want to share the sorrow of these families. However, they deserve more than mere sympathy. They were told that these boys died in a war that was fought for a better world. And if we want to. say that these men did not die in vain, then we must build that new world in which justice and understanding prevail. As the twe speakers before me emphasized, we must do everything to create such a world in which there will be no need for another war. We must remember that this war was not won by one group, but by all of us. Our soldier: did their part, but we, at the home front, did our part, too. All of us have a share in our victory- However, it is not enough to win the war. The peace is yet to be won. And it is possible for u: to lose our victory. Thereforwe, the people, must demand a world in which good-will and charity prevail. Let us not say that this is impossible. Just as we won the war, we can win the peace if only there are enough of us insisting on keeping the peace and willing to do uor share. Only' if we are successful in our efforts toward this goal, shall we be able to say that these men had not died in vain.” CONDOLENCE Msgr. Stephen Jantko, priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Martins Ferry, O., said: “The most difficult thing for man is to comfort those in mourning. We are gathered here to comfort the mothers and fathers of those young men who had made the supreme sacrifice. As Christians it - is our duty to sympathize and to help one another in times of sorrow. With deep sympathy I extend, therefore, my condolences to these good mothers and fathers ...” THEY PAID THE PRICE Commander Win. Mandrey, Veterans of Foreign Wars, brought the assembly the greetings of the “gold striped service organization.” He said: “Our men always have answered the call o' their country. They always went willingly to battle in order to save us. What happened abroad could have happened here. We are proud of our churches, of the American standard of living, of our nation. But in order that we may keep and enjoy these, some had to bay» the price. We pay tribute to these seven men whe by making the supreme sacrifice, paid the price for us- They had the courage to do so because they had faith in God, in their country, their flag and their fellowmen. Le us strive for the same faith they had and so do everything possible for the winning of a lasting' ’ peace.” PRESENTATION OF PORTRAITS Supreme President John Bencze then mounted the stage to address the mourning families and the assembly . ‘‘Approximately one year has elapsed since the bloodiest of all American men, among them six thousand members of the Verhovay Fraternal Association, took part in this great conflict. Of out fellow-members one hundred ninety died for their country so thai we may live in freedom and peace. What these men had done for us, is reavealed by the letters nearly all of us receive these days from Europe. We know of the terrible conditions in Hungary. Homes had been bombed to ruins and those that were spared, had been robbed of everything. Men and women cover their Starved bodies with rags. Children cannot go tt school because they have no clothes to wear. Infants and children died by the thousands from lack of medicaments- This is the starvation, illness and due to the fate of a defeated nation. These letters from Hungary reveal what we owe to our American soldier: who went abroad to save oui homes from being bombed and plundered. Words cannot describe the horrible fate that would have been ours had Japan and Germany conquered us. With their hordes in our land, we would be the weeping, starving victims of oppression, living in fear and humiliation. We are to be forever grateful to our American soldiers for the freedom and peace that is ours because of their heroism and selfsacrifice. We owe respect tr those who returned, and veneration' to those who had given their lives. These portraits will preserve for posterity not only the youthful features of these fallen heroes, but also their deeds. By thus honoring the memory of our fallen soldiers, the Board of Directors of the Verhovay had proven beyond doubt that ours is not jusl a business-like insurance organization, but a fraternal society of helpful, sympathetic brothers and sisters. While these portraits remain with you who mourn for your loved ones, another memorial has been erected in their honor to stand' before the eyes of the world as a reminder of the heroism and self-sacrifice of our men and our liberties which they saved for us. This memorial is the Verhovay Building, dedicated to the memory of Verhovay’s hundred ninety heroic dead members. A reproduction of these portraits will be preserved in a beautiful receptacle to be built into the Board of Director’s room and bronze-tablet in the lobby of our Home Office Building is to remind the public of the hundred nineri Verhovays who had made the supreme sacrifice. It is my privilege to present these seven portraits to the survivors of these young men- I asl you, honored fathers and mothers of our heroes, to accept these gifts in the spirit in which they are presnted to you by the membership of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association.” While the Supreme President slowly uttered the names of JOSEPH A. NAGY, MICHAEL TOAT JOHN GEREB, EDWARD SAUS, JOSEPH M. JUHASZ, ALEXANDER KOVÁCS, SGT. PETER SABO, the churchbells tolled, ringing the glory of immortal men, singing the comfort of faith, their clear to-nes falling into th* hushed silence of the hall, as one by One the flag-draped portraits were unveiled. Then, as the last name Tell from the lips of the Supreme President, and the last portrait appeared be-RELIEF PROJECT CARRIED ON BY THREE TRENTON VERHOVAYANS! X-.x&.-í A wonderful exlmple of Verhovay fraternalism is being served by three Verhovayans in Trenton, N- J. Vice-President Albert B. Ari, John L. Varga and William I. Anson are these three men who set themselves the difficult task to render assistance in individual cases which could not be included in the general relief program of the American Hungarian Relief, Ine. The three fellow-members are seen on the above picture checking 20 gift packages, 11 lbs. each, of which 7 are addressed to the Rev. Dr. Emery Revesz, Reformed Bishop of Debrecen, for distribution among orphans in that devastated .city, while the other 13 packages are being shipped to various individuals whose letters appealing for urgent help were received by the Home Office of the Verhovay and forwarded to Trenton. The picture to the right shows the Ari-Varga-I’Anson trio handling medical supplies shipped to the County hospital in Kaposvár and the County General Hospital at Nyíregyháza. This shipment, divided equally between the two hospitals, contained 10,000 aspirins, 144 dozen applicators, 1.000 tongue blades, 7 lbs. of sterile cotton, 1 quart of iodine, 1.000 band aids, 1 dozen adhesive tape, 12 dozen l” gauze bandage, 12 dozen 2” gaúze bandage, 1 dozen 5 yard gauze, 14 medical towels and 2 medical scissors. (Mr. Varga is handling a box of aspirins to Mr. 1’Anson, however, these gentlemen are not planning to use them, even though they may have lots of headaches trying to satisfy all the requests for help that keep pouring ini) Iii addition, there are several gift-packages for needy individuals, shipped together with the medical supplies- Since May 1, 1946, these fellow-members had sent So packages, 11 lbs. each, to various individuals, in addition to the 20 gift-packages appearing on the picture. This three-man special relief organization designated tne month of August “Hungarian Orphans’ Month” and sent approximately 25 packages of ll lbs. each, to Hungary! And that we call — Verhovay Fraternalism! fore the tear-filled eyes of the deeply moved assembly, the tolling ceased, and a bugler sounded taps while the audience reverently arose in solemn silence, broken only by the sobs of the mothers, fathers and sisters, gazing through their tears at the so well remembered features of their loved ones . . Monseigneur Father Jantko blessed the portraits and then District Manager Joseph Nemes presented each mother with the floral basket placed under the portrait of her son. In his closing address, Loui: Katona expressed his appreciation of the contributions made by Mr- Nemes to the success of the Memorial Ceremonies, he thanked the Supreme Officers, the distinguish-1 ed guests and all who attended 1 this memorable affair. The arrangements made by the Committee, the attentiveness of the dignified and responsive audience, the kindliness of the good people of Crescent, O., and the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Katona cannot be described except in terms of highest praise. --------------------v——----------The world is, I believe, longing for peace, but peace will not come through fear of war or from a pacifism which is only a hedonistic dislike of taking re sponsibility. It will only come if men and women the world over are filled with a positive ought to be and with a devotion conception of what human life ought to be and with a devotion to the comomn service of mankind as great as that which inspired so many sacrifices in war. CLEMENT ATTLEE. , I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Optimism unaccompanied by personal effort will bear little fruit. Some people have a good aim, but don’t pull the trigger. —JOB HEDGES.
