Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)
1947 / Verhovay Journal
(Continued from page 1) all needy countries is of the i foremost importance. Victory can be retained only if we are ready and willing to add the sacrifices of peace to those of j war. It is for this reason that the United States has adopted ; a long range program for aiding the unfortunate peoples of the world. With such aid we shal strive to win the peace j for which these heroes had given their lives. This, however, is only part of our task. Those who had died for liberty, have left us with the obligation tc. protect the freedom which is our American heritage. This freedom of ours has been increasingly endangered by various foreign “isms" during the last decade and is now seriously threatened by Communism.. It is our duty toward these heroic dead that we put a stop to the spreading of Communism and all other un- American doctrines. Full agreement with the statements of Congressman Grant was expressed by the tremendous applause of the audience, which was followed by a Warmly received piano- j solo by Alexander Rudnyan- ; szky, the well-known composer i and. .pianist. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Szabó. Pásztor of Our Lady of Hungarian Church offered the consolation of faith to the bereaved families and commended the Verhovay for presenting them with the portraits of their loved ones as an expression of the sympathy of the membership. These portraits, he said, should be kept where everyone may see them and rerhember why they had to die. For it is up to us to live so that we shall win and keep the peace for which they had made the supreme sacrifice. National Auditor John Sabo, »peaking on behalf of the American born membership of the Verhovay, extended his condolences to the next of kin of the fallen heroes and reminded the audience of the great task which is ours to complete. These men havecome back to us, he said, to ask you if you are keeping faith with them? They have contributed their lives — what are we contributing? They will have died in vain, unless each ' and every one of us is willing " to assume his share in helping rebuild the war-tom countries by providing food, clothing and medicaments for the unfortunate victims of the war. We will have the moral strength needed for the completion of this task only if we American Friends Helping Hungary — American Friends Service Committee Leader Tells Of Conditions in Hungary. — Journal _____________:______________December 10, 1947 accept it as our God-given responsibility. We need to seek God and let Christian faith inspire our souls to a life of self-dedication. Peeace on earth will be had only if Peace with God has been found. Another piano rendition by Alexander Rudnvanszky was folowed by the address of Captain George A. Polly, who. representing the U. S. Army, came to extend sympathy to the dear ones of our heroic dead and to pay tribute to the men who knew- the cost of victory and w7ere willing to pay it With their lives. Presentation of the portraits of Pvt. Stephen Molnár, PFC. Joseph Vargo, Pvt. Frank Vargo, Cpl. Charles Hofier and Pvt. Joseph Sebok was made by National Treasurer John Szalanczv. Paying tribute to the Six Thousand members of the Verhovay F. I Association who had served with the armed forces and to the One Hundred and Ninety men w7ho had made the supreme sacrifice, he said: “These men did not want to be heroes, nor did they seek the doubtful glory of death on the battlefields, they only wanted to do their duty for a country that stands for democracy, affording its people the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is due to their selfless devotion to duty that the war had been won. and it will take the same devotion to patriotic duty on our part to win the peace. We must work together as one great team to make certain that the peace will be won and kept as these men wmild want us to keep it. The solemn unveiling and presentation of the portraits was followed by the benediction, offered by the Rev. Joseph Lenk, former U. S. Army Chaplain. Pianist Alexander Rudnyanszky concluded the excellent program with playing “God Bless America.” It was the unanimous consent of the large audience that this wras one of the most impressive events they have ever attended. The officers of Branch 132 excelled in the arrangements fór the memorial ceremonies and succeeded in making it a deeply moving de- I monstration of patriotic fratemalism. A fine program folder was j printed in commemoration of this event, bearing the names, j and dates of death, of the fal- len heroes of Branch 132, and a poem by Amelia Nyers, former editor of the Verhovay I Journal, which is reprinted elsewhere on this page. In such and similar v.'avs many of the On Friday, November 21st, Del Eberhardt, a leader of the American Friends’ Service Committee, returning from Hungary where he spent 18 months in relief service, visited our Home Office. In response to a hurried invitation, some fifty leaders of Hungarian churches and societies of the Pittsburgh area gathered in the directors’ meeting room of the Verhovay Building tc hear Mr. Eberhardt’s report on conditions in Hungary. His audience was deeply gratified to hear that the American Friends had distributed approximately $200,000 worth of food and clothing among the children of Hungary durinr the last year and a half. He added, however, that the need is greater than ever because due to last summer’s prolonged draught, the people of Hungary face the most difficult winter since the conclusion of the war. More' than half of Hungary’s school-children will be unable to attend school due to the lack of clothing and shoes. The need for foodstuff will be more pronounced than ever before. The people of Hungary face starvation unless effective help is forthcoming. officers and members have made valuable contributions to the effectiveness of th^ memorial ceremonies. Following the program a dinner was given by Br. 132 to the next of kin of the fallen heroes, the members of Post 272 of the American Legion, who had served as guards of honor during the ceremonies, the speakers and the out of town guests. Here director Stephen Nyers, President of Branch 132, acted as Master of Ceremonies, introducing first Hon. Dan Pyle, Judge ci the Circuit Court, v/ho due to a misunderstanding arrived too late for his scheduled appearance on the program. He delivered his memorial address at this time to the approxi- I mately 100 guests of Branch In view of the desperate need! Mr. Eberhardt appealed to his audience for immediate and aggressive relief action Regardless of wrhich reliefagency the Americans of Hungarian descent may prefer to support, said Mr. Eberhardt, the important thing is that relief be sent, without delay, to the unfortunate Hungarian nation. His listeners very encouraged by his firm belief in the future of the Hungarian people. They were deeply impressed by Mr. Eberhardt’s statement that nowhere in Europe has he seen such marvellous progress in reconstruction than in Hungary. Weakened by years of destitution, the people of Hungary are determined to survive and, in the face of almost hopeless conditions, keep on re-building and producing with a courage that is unmatched among the European nations. We hope that, inspired by the noble example of the American Friends and encouraged by the report of Mr. Eberhardt, Americans of Hungarian descent will make renewed efforts in support of our relief movement. 132. He was followed by the members of the Board of Directors. the managers of the nearby branches, and others, all of whom paid tribute to the memory of the heroic dead Verhovay members from South Bend and extended their sympathies to the bereaved families. With a grateful acknowledgement on their behalf of the honors bestowed upon them by the Association and its South Bend branch the memorial event concluded after ten o’clock at night. In behalf of the readers of the Journal we extend our deepest sympathy to the next of kin of the heroic dead members of Branch 132 and our thanks to all who had taken part in the memorial ceremonies. OUR VERHOVAY HEROES by AMELIA NYERS — Reprinted from the program folder of the Memorial Ceremonies of South Bend Branch 132. — In their youth our Verhovay boys were radiant as the dawn; Singing in the world's ear a song of contentment and happiness; Suddenly you were torn away, the sound of war drums carried you on Into a deep dark world where virtues were lost in selfishness; You returned not — your footsteps are silent and still as the night; You dream in the other world, yet think no idle thought; the light Of Peace is with you; vainly we try to follow you in our dreams. But cannot reach you in the place where nothing is but Peace. Our themes Sing of the bells of Easter — Love! — Symbol of God's eternalness; He has given our Verhovay Heroes lasting happiness! Peace Aims Reaffirmed At Memorial Ceremonies
