Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-10-01 / 10. szám
FRATERNITY 15 “HUNGARIAN MEMORIAL DAY” IN THE CAPITAL On October 6, 1956, Hungarian Americans of Washington, D. C. and the vicinity gathered into St. John’s Episcopal Church to attend divine service in commemoration of the “Martyrs of Arad’’ and the 500th anniversary of the victory at Nándorfehérvár, where the great Hungarian war lord, János Hunyadi, smashed Moslem forces. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first occasion when the Almighty was praised in the Hungarian language in this beautiful historical church which is commonly known as the “Presidents’ Church”, since all the 34 Presidents of the United States worshipped here. After the opening psalm and “America”, Rev. Stephen Sziartó offered the Hungarians’ gratitude to Rev. Frank R. Wilson for permitting the use of his church; then he prayed in the English and the Hungarian languages rendering thanks for those martyrs and heroes God has given to our old country to keep Hungariandom alive, and appealed for His further grace to lessen the present crucial ordeal of our countrymen. Rev. Wilson answered with a few informal words to Rev. Sziartó and greeted the participants. He incidentally mentioned that he also has distant Hungarian relatives and knowing the fine history of our people, he proudly pointed out this fact. The sermon was preached by Rev. George E. K. Borshy, secretary of the Federation. His every word was inspired with the true love of his race and his native country, but behind his thoughts and deductions one could feel the man who — during those decades spent in America — learned to measure up the sins and virtues of his own people in comparison with so many others. Through the victories such as the presently celebrated one at Nándorfehérvár, and the defeats and humiliations such as the execution of the thirteen generals at Arad, in both of which Hungarian history is so rich, Rev. Borshy had clearly shown the presence of the blessing or punishing God. He left the attendants with the deep conviction that Hungariandom had and still has duties to fulfill assigned to us by the Almighty himself. After benediction the service was closed with the Hungarian anthem. Then, upon Rev. Borshy’s request, the participants remained standing while Dr. Gabriel Ujfalusy, senior bookkeeper of the Federation, sounded the carillon on a specially built organ composing a beautiful background music taken from the “Hunyadi March” and the “Szózat”. Dr. Ujfalusy’s interpretation was one of the best and most impressive artistic productions we have ever heard in Hungarian circles. We left the church with the unforgettable good feeling that we paid the tribute of respect to our national heroes in the heart of our beloved new country. Let us hope that this sixth day of October, 1956, was only the first in a long line of coming “Hungarian Memorial Days” here in the capital and throughout the nation. The Voice of America broadcast the service to Hungary. (L. L. E.)
