William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986 / Különszám
Page 8, Special Centennial Issue, William Penn Life. Association, but I am more than happy not to repeat it but to add something to it. First of all, I am honored to bring you the greetings and congratulations of the Hungarian government and the Hungarian people to the Association this evening, and I am especially proud to remember with you the men who founded this Association. With your kind permission, I would like to remember not only 13, but more than one million Hungarians of that generation who came to America in search of a new life. The reason those people came here was because the situation in their home country became so desperate, so bad, that they had to leave their home country and seek a new homeland with other opportunities. I think that all those Hungarians here tonight, through their parents or grandparents, happen to be part of that generation we honor tonight. It is quite well known that throughout history quite a number of Hungarians had to leave their homeland either for economic reasons, as I have said, or for political reasons. But, we who stayed at home never forgot all those Hungarians who left us to look for and founded a new home right here in the U.S.A. And we at home are very proud of all of those who not only found a new and better life but who continue to be Hungarians in their hearts. We are very happy, ladies and gentlemen, knowing most of the Hungarians abroad are looking for not only their roots in the old country in Hungary today, but looking for their cultural heritage. I would like to urge you to please continue to search for and preserve your ancient culture and your present culture whether it be Hungarian or American. I wish you further success for the next 100 years, and wish you many happy returns. Thank you. Recalling The Tax Battle I now call upon the Honorable William Coyne, United States Representative, for remarks. Congressman Coyne is a native of Pittsburgh, graduated from Central Catholic High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Robert Morris College. In 1970, he served a two-year term in the Pennsylvania House of representatives. In 1973, he was elected to Pittsburgh City Council. In 1980, he was elected to represent the 14th Congressional District. He is an advocate of equal rights and environmental protection. He is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and serves on sub-committees for health and Social Security. He is a key figure in working out a sweeping tax reform bill. We fratemalists owe him a debt of gratitude because it was Congressman Coyne, who after consulting with fraternal leaders, was instrumental to continue to exclude fraternals from taxation. He realized the charitable and benevolent works of the fraternals and believes they should be tax exempt. I’m very happy to present to you Congressman William Coyne. It was a great pleasure to have been asked to participate here tonight on this 100th anniversary of the William Penn Association. I think this is a great display of solidarity that is taking place here in the city of Pittsburgh where so many people of Hungarian ancestry have made their contribution to Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. And it is this type of solidarity that we see here tonight that was very instrumental last year in Washington in being able to preserve the tax exempt status of the associations that make a significant contribution to the lifestyle and social fabric of the United States. It was this type of solidarity that Gay Banes led to Washington last year, continued this year with the United States Senate, to preserve the tax exempt status of the fraternal organizations. We in Washington realize that day in and day out, the contribution these people make in communities throughout the nation and it was well deseved that the tax exempt status was Dr. Vencel Házi, ambassador of the Hungarian People’s Republic, delivers his remarks during the Centennial Banquet. (Photo by Louis Fodor) Congressman Coyne recalls the fight to keep tax exempt status for fraternal societies. (Photo by Louis Fodor) preserved. I was very happy to play a part in that, and I am very happy to be here with you tonight to enjoy this celebration. Thank you very much. A Call For Preservation We are pleased to have with us this evening the Honorable Edward P. Zemprelli, minority leader of the Pennsylvania Senate. Mr. Zemprelli is a true friend of the fraternal benefit system and he was instrumental in having the Uniform Fraternal Code passed in the Senate. We here again thank him for his support. Senator Zemprelli. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Secretary General, all the friends of the dais, ladies and gentlemen. I am very happy to be here tonight. I am pleased to be here as a first generation Italian and to recognize that you have the same, identical colors that are on the Italian flag. The second reason that I am happy to be here tonight is that my golf pro at the Youghiogheny Country Club is the son-in-law of the illustrious Gay Banes, and he told me that if I did not show up here tonight I could not have the privileges on Sunday and Saturday mornings, and I want you to know that. I brought with me a resolution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Senate. I will not read it. It commends you for your 100th anniversary. I would, however, like to say a few words—and I’m not much for few words—but I speak from my heart. In a way I’m proud and in another way I’m --------------------------------------------------------Continued on next page
