Fraternity-Testvériség, 2007 (85. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2007-04-01 / 2. szám
HRFA and Americans of Hungarian Decent Celebrate Memorial Day May 2007 - A wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sponsored by the American Hungarian Federation, allowed Hungarian Americans, including HRFA members, to honor those who gave their lives for freedom. AHF and HRFA members and guests, and throngs of tourists witnessed the special ceremony as AHF President Attila Micheller was escorted by Lt. Col. Steve Vékony (US Army) and the First California Hussar Regiment. Arlington National is the final resting place for a number of Hungarian American Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Following the wreath laying, the program included a remembrance and walking tour of Hungarian-American gravesites. “This was a historic moment in Hungarian-American history. What a great honor indeed to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which required special permission. Americans of Hungarian descent who have fought and died in every American war since the War of Independence, today paid tribute to not only their fallen brethren but to their fellow Americans from all races and creeds. We honor and remember all those that died for their country." (excerpt from speech given by AHF Executive Committee President Bryan Dawson Szilagyi). AHF Co-President Zoltán Bagdy led the group in prayer and then, with AHF Vice-President Yvette Boone-Gorog, led a roll call honoring Hungarian-American military present at the ceremony and those that had passed on. Participants then went on a walking tour of selected gravesites where the heroism of these fallen heroes was remembered through the reading of their personal history. Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier HRFA President and AHF Co-President Gyula Balogh attended with his oldest son Peter who made a special trip from NYC to honor the fallen. Also attending was HRFA member and AHF Chairman Ákos Nagy, who has provided financial support for many HRFA events. Mr. Balogh laid a ribbon to honor Major-General Julius Stahel, and Mr. Nagy laid a ribbon at the gravesite of Capt. Ödön Gurovits. They are described below. Major-General Julius H. Stáhel (b. 1825, Hungary d. 1912, NY) Congressional Medal of Honor Hussar in the 1848 war of independence. Escaped with Kossuth to the United States. Worked as a Journalist. At the outbreak of the Civil War, organized the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry becoming lieutenant-colonel. At the First Battle of Bull Run, 1861, he prevented Confederate forces from advancing on Washington. President Lincoln personally expressed his appreciation. Promoted to Colonel and shortly afterwards, received his star as a brigadier general. After Mosby's raid at Fairfax Court House, Lincoln summoned Stahel and ordered him to take charge of the cavalry at Fairfax and raised him to the rank of major general. Capt. Ödön Gurovits (b. 1/21/1857, Budapest, d. 1/14/1902, Philippines) Private, Corporal and Sergeant, Company C and Sergeant Major, 6th United States Infantry, 16 Mar 1880 to 22 October 1886, Second Lieuetnant, 11th United States Infantry, 22 October 1886, First Lieutenant, 12th United States Infantry, 15 December 1893, Transferred to 11th United States Infantry, 16 April 1894, Captain, 2 March 1899. Died in BayBay, Leyte, ahf Chairmoan Ákos Nagy at Philippines. His wife, Mary Brent Gurovits (1858-1929) is buried with him. Gurovits gravesite Fraternity - Testvériség / Summer 2007 13
