Verhovayak Lapja, 1949 (32. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949 / Verhovay Journal
July 20, 1949 Verhovay Journal PAGE 11 * National President John Beneze Greets Tournament Assembly Caught in a characteristic gesture, the National President is shown delivering a "short but sweet” address to the thousand guests of the Tournament Banquet. Sitting at his left are the Hon. Eugene Van Antwerp, Mayor of the City of Detroit, and his wife. Standing behind Mr. Bencze’s raised right, appear Director Richard J. Phillips, member of the National Executive Tournament Committee, Paul Benyö, Manager of Branch 511, (the man with the cigarette) and Vice-President Julius Macker. Messrs. Macker and Phillips headed the Detroit Tournament Committee of One Hundred. Half of Vice- President Ari’s face also is visible at the extreme left, while one of the two Frank Brogley Memorial Trophies and two of the minor event trophies jppear behind the Mayor. There is also a chair but it just happened to lie there . . . LAST TWO HEROES’ PORTRAITS PRESENTED AT JACOBS CREEK, PA., JULY 4TH COMMUNITY CEREMONIES — Portraits of Andrew Piter and Michael Seamon Presented on Independence Day in Presence of Entire Community. — The dedication of the Mike Hazy Memorial Park, named after the first serviceman to die in World War II., from Jacobs Creek, Pa., served as ■the occasion for the presentation of the portraits of Andrew Piter and Michael Seamon, members of Branch 201 (formerly 396), on Monday, July 4th. Sponsored by Local 2025 of the United Mine Workers of America, the ceremonies honoring all veterans, living and dead, in the Jacobs Creek area, made this the most impressive of all portrait presentations, a fitting conclusion to the long series of Verhovay memorial ceremonies at which, over a period of four and a half years, the portraits of nearly 190 Verhovay heroes, all of them masterpieces of artist Hugh M. Poe, were presented to their next of kin. Three granite monuments, bearing the names of the servicemen of Jacobs Creek, were unveiled and dedicated in the inspiring ceremonies which started at 9:30 a.m. with a parade, the first of its kind in the community. Assembled in the Mike Hazy Memorial Park, the people of Jacobs Creek stood at attention for the flag raising ceremony and the singing of the National Anthem which was followed by the Hags beinglowered to half mast in memory of the fallen heroes of World War II. After the invocation, offered by the Rev. pastor Me. Neily, pastor of the Smithton, Pa., Methodist Church, Pete Chermon, President of the UMWA Local 2025, opened the ceremonies with a moving tribute to the heroes of the community. A prayer for peace by the Rev. McNeily followed, and, then, District Attorney L. Alexander Sculco delivered the Independence Day address. Lt. Colonel L. Al. Flora, William Knox, Banker of Smithton, Pa,, congressman Gus Kelly of the 32nd District, and Joe Yablonski, member of the International Board of the U.M.W.A., Washington, D.C., followed each with a stirring message on the significance of Independence Day and the sacrifices by which our heroes defended the sacred heritage of the nation. The unveiling of the three monuments by Mrs. Anna Peluso, a sister of the late Mike Hazy, was an inspiring moment of great solemnity. A blessing was spoken over the memorial by the Rev Me Neily and, then, National Auditor John Sabo presented the portraits of Andrew Piter and Michael Seamon to the next of kin. Explaining to the audience that the Verhovay, six thousand of whose members had served with the armed forces, 190 of whom had made the supreme sacrifice, presents the portraits of its fallen heroes to their next of kin as a token of its pledge not to forget those men and women who had given their lives to preserve the Independence of the American people, he proceeded to expound the 1949 version of the meaning of Independence Day’s undying tradition. "If you would only realize,” he said, “how these men had died in Africa, at Anzio, in Normandy, at Iwo Jima, you would feel irrevocably indebted to put into practice the true meaning of the spirit of Independence that requires us to be good Americans, to live closer to God, to be better neighbours in the firm rejection of all discrimination and to take part in the goverment of the community, the state and the nation to the best of your abilities. While these heroes had made the supreme sacrifice for the preservation of our national ideals, we take too much for granted SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTED TO NORTHAMPTON OFFICERS (Courtesy: Allentown Morning Call) HONOR VETERAN OFFICIALS—Guests at a dinner honoring two veteran officials of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Assn., Northampton, Saturday night in the club hall, are, seated from left: Joseph Magyar, president for 15 years; Stephen Lang, Bethlehem, a member of the board of directors of the national association, who presented awards, and John Szőke, secretary for 15 terms. In the rear are Joseph Subits, branch manager and toastmaster; Rev. Louis Kovács, assistant rector of Our Lady of Hungary Catholic church; Burgess George M. Berg, speaker, and Stephen Hanto, president of SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Sick and Beneficial society. “Loyalties and Fidelities” was the topic of a talk by Burgess George M. Berg of Northampton at a dinner honoring past officials of Branch 216, Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, Saturday night, April 30, 1949, in the Hungarian Hall, Northampton, Pa. Tracing membership in organizations as part of man’s natural gregariousness, the speaker urged members to “give their best to their God, country and organizations.” He was introduced by Joseph Subits, branch manager and toastmaster. Joseph Magyar and John Szőke, former officials, who served for 15 years as president and secretary respectively, were honored for their accomplishments in behalf of the order. Both were presented with awards by Stephen Lang, Betlehem, member of the national Verhovay board of directors. Hungarian songs were sung by Joseph Teklits, 512 E. 11th St., who recently arrived from Hungary to join his wife in the United States. Rev. Louis Kovács, assistant rector of Our Lady of Hungary church, pronounced the benediction.'The invocation was offered by toastmaster Subits. Dancing to music by John Poch and his orchestra, Phillipsburg, rounded out the night’s program. Arranging the affair was a committee headed by Frank Knopf and Mrs. Mary Frisch. The above report, reprinted from the May 2nd edition of the Allentown Morning Call, reflects the impressiveness and success of the affair at which the “Verhovay Acknowledged’’ title with the silver service medal was presented to Messrs. Joseph Magyar and John Szőke by director Stephen Lang. It is of particular interest to note that the committee in charge of the affair honoring these two aged officers of the branch, consisted mostly of the members of the Northampton Branch 216 bowling teams: Frank Knopf, Captain, Elmer Lutte, John Wagner, John Frisch, Owen Falk, Joseph Subits; Mary Grabarits, Captain, Anna Hacker, Mary Frisch, Anna Kuba Meashock, Kitty Rank and Theresa Nemeth. They were ably assisted by Mrs. George Lorincz, Mrs. Stephen Toth, Mrs. Elmer Lutte and Mrs. Joseph Subits, who prepared a delicious supper, and Messrs. Frank Rockas, Stephen Janny and George Horvath whose freely rendered services had helped make the banquet and dance a great success. Incidentally, Mr. Joseph Teklits, who appeared on the program, became a member of the Verhovay, together with his wife, in April. Congratulations to both of them upon their reunion and their membership in the Verhovay! Stephen Lang director, and Peter Toth, President of Branch 98, Betlehem, Pa., led a delegation of seven members. In addition to those named above, greetings and congratulations were conveyed by President Peter Toth of Br. 98, John Beitel, manager of Branch 90, Allentown, Pa., and others. The celebration at which the younger generation of Verhovayans honored their elders, is one of the most encouraging examples of Verhovay fraternalism on record. The bowlers of Northampton, and those who joined them in this undertaking, are to be sincerely commended for their excellent spirit. While in so many lodges splendid opportunities are wasted away by mutual distrust, strife and jealousy, the bowlers of Northampton stand united, supported by, as well as rendering wholehearted support to, the elders of Branch 216. Fraternalism is not just an empty slogan in Northampton. It is a fact, a true force for the advancement of the brotherhood of mankind. Congratulations to Messrs. Magyar and Szőke who have managed to gain such an enthusiastic following among the second generation of Verhovayans and our sincere respects to the bowlers who have proved themselves worthy of the great heritage of the Verhovay. and are altogether too unwilling to make the sacrifices demanded from us by the conditions of our times. We succumb all to easily to whisperings about another war and instead of presenting a united front to all thé world, we are making it easy for the evil forces of world domination to pursue their ends. Let, therefore, the memory of these heroes inspire us to a renewed selfdedication to the ideals and aims for which they had given their lives...” Salute by the 110th Regiment of the National Guard, Monessen, Pa., and taps by Lawrence Floro, Jr., (Continued on page 12)
