Verhovayak Lapja, 1946 (29. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1946 / Verhovay Journal
NOVEMBER 13, 1946 GOVERNOR OF INDIANA FAYS TRIBUTE TO VERHOVAY HERO DEAD IN GARY . Members of Branch 138, and many others from Indiana and ^Illinois met at St. Emeric’s Roman Catholic Church on October 27th, Sunday morning, to attend Holy Mass celebrated by the Rev. Father Geza Gyorffy and two assistants, in memory of the four hero dead of Branch 138, Gary, Ind. In his brief address Father Gyorffy paid tribute to the Verhovay F. I. Association for immortalizing those of its members who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country. Verhpvayans from Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting,' Indiana Harbor, South Bend, Milwaukee, Chicago, and many friends of the Association attended the Memorial Ceremonies held at the Froebel School Auditorium at 2:30 o’clock in the afternoon. More than five hundred were present when Julius Danch, manager of Branch 138, Chairman of the Program Committee, opened the Ceremonies with one of the finest addresses ever delivered on such an occasion by a branch-officer. ADDRESS BY JULIUS DANCH “We do well to stop and look into the past, from time to time, observing the path we have followed in our journey through life, and reflecting on the events that had brought us up to our present day. We recall. the happy, carefree days of our youth when we were gamboling on the green, in the meadow, on the streets, always under the watchful eyes of our mothers. We recall trudging to school thru’ sunshine, wind, rain and snow. .We recall the villages, the cities ‘of our land, of the pilgrimages we made, our visits from place to place. Many of us can recall the long trip over land and sea to a new land whére a new life was started amidst new surroundings. ’ We recall our courtships and weddings . . . our children. We recall how Johnny was taken down with measles, how Paul was stung by a bee, how Bill fell and hurphis leg . . . how patiently we cared for all their needs. Ours was a happy lot in a land of the free and the home of the brave. This land was good to us. We had our community life, our schools, our churches, our homes and families. Peace reigned supreme. And then—bang'. ’The guns of World War One began to blast our security out from under us . . . Dad marched off to war. to safeguard this nation and all nations for democracy ... ’A war I to end all wars’—that was the j slogan. Many of our dad’s didn’t come home . . . many others were not the same anymore . . • Still, there was a hustling and bustling sort of carefree industry .. . everything seemed to be well with us. and the world. For a while it seemed as if though we actually lived in a land flowing with milk and honey. Then crash'.—the bottom fell out of our dinner pails ... we had built a paper security, which couldn’t bear the weight and was bound to crumble ... You remember the Depression . . . the scars are still with us. All of us experi-Sgt. William Babinsky T/Sgt. ,4, John Farkas, Jr. T/Sgt. John F. Kish 1st Lt. Paul A. Kish enced a crude awakening . . . Many of us lost our hard earned money during the closing of the banks . . . Many of us lost our homes, our business . . . Soon friendships began to break up ... It was a scramble for the survival of the strongest . . . Where once we unselfishly went out of our way to help our fellow-men in truble — toe now avoided our fellowmen- And even as we refused to place our trust in our fellowmen, nations also did not place trust fn neighboring nations. Even as we had forgotten to place our faith in our Creator, so did nations forget their obligations under the established moral‘ codes . . . The outcome was inevitable . . . World War Number Two.-.— Only now ,instead of dad going off to war, it was our sons and our daughters who went. It was Draft . . . soldiers • . . war-work . . . registrations . . . OPA . . • War Bonds . . . etc. etc. . .These things are still fresh in our minds . . . they are practically with us yet • . . And you know the ills of it all .. . Even as in World War One, now, too, the Moral Code is but a set of empty rules . . . meant only for the weak . . . and to be used by the strong . . . We still are in the period of unrest and reconstruction . . . while we mourn for those of our sons who will never come home . . ■ and those who shall never be able to take their rightful place in our midst . . . We fought another war t<f Save the Democracy of the World ■ . • Today we pay tribute to the mothers and fathers of four departed members of Branch 138 of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association. They are our heroes who had sacrificed all they had and paid with their lives a debt of loyalty for our country, our nation, our Home, so that we may remain free from Want, free from Fear, Free in our religious worship, and Free in our right of speech . . . How much comfort these parents, and even these, our departed friends, could derive from the knowldege that have not died in vain'. How happy they would be if we and the world would take a lesson from these warriors who had fought on the fields of battle side by side . . . sharing the hardships and joys, caring for one another in their trials and fears’. How happy, indeed, they would be if we could but bring a lasting peace into a world even now sorely tried'. Indeed, it would be a fitting tribute if friend and foe alike would pay their respects to their memory by righting whatever wrongs we may have committed against one another . . • one nation against the other . . . Then, indeed, the souls of these departed would find happiness and rest. Our fraternal insurance association is ever ready to render assistance to those who seek us out . . . We are ever ready to promote feelings of noble pride and good cheer . . . And we do not forget those who once had graced our lines . . . At this time, in behalf of Mr. John Peleskey, our Branch- President, Mr. Frank Debrosky, our Vice-President, Mr. Charles Bodnar, our Recording Secretary, Mr. Louis Verbich, our Sick-Visitor, Mr. Matt’ Klusovaszky, Mr. John Toth, members of the Program Committee. District Manager George Toth. Mr. Ernest Kunstadt, manager of Branch 164, and myself, as manager of this branch and chairman of the Program ,Committee, I wish to extend to our distinguished Fathers, the Reverend Clergy, our State and City leaders, our School officials, our distinguished guests, our soloists and speakers and all of you present on this solemn occasion. our sincere appreciation for the fine tribute you are rendering to the memory of these fine lads who had become our heroes." POSTING OF COLORS. The Posting of Colors by the Drum and Bugle Corps of Gary Memorial Post No. 17, followed. After the impressive ceremony Mor Oppman, leader of the corps, addressed the audience first in Hungarian and, then, in English, assuring the parents of the fallen heroes of the deep sympathy of the American Legion. “We can appreciate—he said—the great sacrifices these fathers and mothers were called upon to make. In the bitter sorrow of their losses, they must be sustained by their pride in that their sons had given their lives for our great democratic nation. This day is sacred to all of us. These men gained their eternal rest after having done their duty. Let us today resolve to do our duty as they did theirs!” After “The Star Spangled Banner” was sung by Miss Elizabeth Lucas, accompanied by Ernest Kaplar, and prayer offered by the Rev. Father Matthew Kish, Mr. Danch introduced Msgr. Alex Papp of St. Michael’s Greek Catholic Church. WE WON THE WAR, BUT DID NOT REACH OUR GOAL. Msgr. Alex Papp commended the Verhovay for conducting these Memorial Ceremonies in honor of its fallen heroes and their bereaved kin. Then he continued: “America fought to free the oppressed people of the world. America fought to do away with the rule of dictators. We won the war, but did not reach our goal, for, as I see it, the spirit of democracy did not prevail. Our heroes will have died in vain if we defeat one group of dictators only to let another group take over.” Oppression of the weak will persist until the spirit of true Christianity is revived. Christianity teaches brotherly love and that is what oppressors cannot believe in, nor tolerate in others.’ “Of all the oppressed people Hungary has received the worst treatment. The past of this nation was one of glory. What its future will be, we don’t know. But let’s all do all we can to help her future to be a bright one. And let all of us practice true Christianity, for therein lies our only hope, not only for Hungary but for all the people of the world.” A TEACHER’S TRIBUTE TO HIS FORMER PUPILS. Charles D. Lutz, Superintendent of the Public Schools of Gary, Ind., paid a moving tribute to the young men who, many years ago, attended the public schools in Gary. “Regardless of nationality,” said Mr. Lutz, “our children grew up as good American citizens. They had proven this by what they did in World War II. Four young men of your Association from Gary gave their lives for their country. We are sad beyond words that this had to happen. Now we wish we could have done more for them than we had done in the past. However, they are beyond everything that we could do for them. But for the sake of the living, the young boys and girls in bur schools, we must hope, pray and work for a future in which such tragedy cannot happen again. I extend my deepest sympathy to the four mothers and fathers who had given so much for the ideals of their adopted country.» I hope that the burden of these mothers and fathers will be lightened by the knowledge that their sons had fought for a good cause and gave their lives for democracy. And I hope that they will find some measure of comfort in the assurance that we will always remember with deep gratitude what their sons did for us and our nation.” John Kostyal’s recital followed and, then, the Rev. Bertram Szathmary, pastor of the First Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church spoke of the terrific struggle of our soldiers, their deprivations, sufferings and sacrifices. He moved the audience to tears with his poetic farewell to the four fallen Verhovay heroes of Gary. He spoke of the deep sorrow of American Hungarians for their unfortunate native country and ended his stirring address by declaring his faith in the Justice of God which finally shall prevail. HON. RALPH F. GATES GOVERNOR OF INDIANA. The membership of the Verhovay was deeply honored by the presence at the Memorial Ceremonies of the Hon. Ralph F. Gates, Governor of the State of Indiana. Invited by Manager Julius Danch, he consented to address the assembly and to assist at the presentation of the portraits, deeply obliging thereby the parents of our heroes, the officers and members of Branch 138, and the entire Association. Fully appreciating the significance of the presence of Indiana’s First Citizen, the audience gave him a rousing welcome to which we would like to add at this time, in behalf of the Supreme Officers of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, our sincere thanks to him for taking part in the Memorial Ceremonies. “NOWHERE, BUT IN AMERICA COULD SUCH MEETING BE HELD.” “I am very grateful,” said Governor Gates “that I can add my small share to the ceremonies of today. It is fitting and proper, indeed, that such Memorial Ceremonies be conducted for these boys who gave their lives for their country. -I extend all of you the greetings, and to the sorrowing parents the sympathy of the State of Indiana. I assure (Continued from Page 2)
