William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986 / Különszám
William Penn Life, Special Centennial Issue, Page 13 National Vice President Stephen Lang Jr. (right) presents to Prof. August J. Molnár, president of the American Hungarian Foundation, the first installment of the Association’s $60,000 pledge to help build the Hungarian Heritage Center. The Santa Ferenc Gypsy Orchestra entertains guests at the Centennial Banquet. (Photo by Louis Fodor) because it has been preserved. As Gay Banes is want to saying, this is a challenge we all can accept. He says it is better for us to try to do something significant and fail than to stand by, do nothing and succeed. My dear friends you have tried and you have succeeded. Because of these mergers the William Penn Association is a substantial factor in the National Fraternal Congress of America. Your voice is not only heard, but your advice is heeded and your support is willingly accepted. We thank you, the thirteen of us, for the honor you have bestowed upon us, and, again, we accept it in your name, not in our names. I know that on July the Fourth when they light the Statue of Liberty, there is going to be one beam that will be assigned just for the William Penn Association. With that one beam Lady Liberty will say—that if she could speak I know she would say—“my beloved sons and daughters, I welcomed you and you have kept your promise to me because you have left America better off than when you found it.” Supporting Our Heritage During the centennial banquet, National Vice President Stephen M. Lang Jr. made a special presentation to Prof. August J. Molnár, president of the American Hungarian Foundation. “I am sure,” Vice President Lang said, “you are aware that the William Penn Association has always supported and abetted fellow Hungarian societies and foundations in Hungarian culture and heritage endeavors and perpetuated the Hungarian spirit in America. “It is my pleasure and distinct privilege to present a check, the first installment of a pledge of $60,000, to the Hungarian Heritage Center.” With that, Prof. Molnár accepted the check on behalf of the Foundation and the Center. He announced that in recognition of the Association’s donation, the meeting room in the Center will be named for the William Penn Association. The Association made a second installment on its pledge during the centennial celebration held June 1 in New Brunswick, N.J. A Prayer For Guidance The Benediction was delivered by the Most Rev. Zoltán Király, bishop of the Calvin Synod and pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Passaic, N.J. With grateful hearts, we thank you, oh Lord, for celebrating the unsurpassable achievements of your guiding spirit. As from delapidated, abandoned buildings this city was reborn into a modern miracle of skyscrapers, the beauty of steel and glass, so from a humble beginning of the founding fathers Singer Deszo Sándor Hodos awaits his turn at the mike while fellow Hungarian Apollonia Kovács renders a favorite Hungarian song. (Photo by Louis Fodor) did the largest Hungarian American fraternal organization, the William Penn Association, has been born and rises now above this foundation of its rebirth and emerges as a skyscraper in the life or our society. Following the precious heritage of our forefathers, spreading the cultural, educational and fraternal benefits to all who need it, may our Lord bless all leaders and members of this great organization to fill the next hundred years with confidence and courage for the benefit of all men and the good of God. And now in the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit may be with us all. Amen. A Special Thank You Any record of our Centennial Banquet would be incomplete if we did not acknowledge the contributions made to the banquet program by several members and friends of our Association. We would like to thank: Honorable Fred Trello, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and member of Branch 8020, McKees Rocks, Pa., who led the banquet audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Trello dedicated the Pledge of Allegiance that night to the members of our Association who “made the ultimately sacrifice” by giving their lives in defense of their country. Mr. George S. Charles Jr., agency administrator at the Home Office, who led the crowd in the singing of the National Anthem. Mrs. Barbara Kerékgyártó, Home Office employee, who led the singing of the Magyar Himnusz. Mrs. Barbara B. Botkin, national director, who led the singing of God Bless America. Ferenc Santa Jr., the Continental Orchestra of Budapest and vocalists Kovács Apollonia and Deszo Sándor Hodos, who came from Hungary to give the banquet guests hours of enjoyment. The management and the staff of the Westin William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, who did an excellent job in accommodating our guests and in preparing and serving the banquet dinner. The staff of the Nationality Broadcasting Network of Cleveland, Ohio, who videotaped the banquet program for posterity.
