Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
Dedication of American-Hungarian Liberty Ship On Sunday, at 2:30 P.M., March 12th, at the Verhovay Magyar Hall, Hazelwood, Pa., the Western Pennsylvania American Hungarian War Bond Committee symbolically dedicated a Liberty ship to be named in honor of Colonal Commander Michael Kovács, a gallant soldier in Washington’s Army over a hundred years ago. The purchase of this Liberty ship was made possible through the efforts of the members of the Western Pennsylvania American Hungarian War Bond Committee, who launched the campaign which sold three and a half million dollars in War Bonds. The naming of the ship, after the great Hungarian Colonal Commander, Michael Kovács, was an impressive ceremony. Mrs. Francis P. Tarnopowicz, Deputy State Administrator and Chairman of the Nationality Groups of the War Finance Committee of Western Pennsylvania, made possible the purchase and naming of the Liberty ship. The Dedication opened with music by the Nirella Band. Rev. Nicholas Varkonyi gave the Invocation. after which Mrs. Joseph Urban, Chariman of the American Hungarian Liberty Ship Drive, acted as Master of Ceremonies. After the singing of THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER by the audience and the vocalization of the “Himnus” by Miss Irene Takács, accompanied by Mrs. Ilon S. Whiteson, Mrs. Urban gave a report on the campaign, in which she told the work the members of the American Hungarian War Bond Committee performed in order to achieve the purchase price of the Liberty ship. Mrs. Francis P. Tarnopowicz accepted j the Bond Report. The Dedication was made by Mrs. Joseph Urban, who was assisted by the following sponsors: Mr. John G. Toth, Mrs. Louis de Markus, Dr. Tibor Kerekes, Secretary of the American Hungarian Federation; Mr. Imre Király, Treasurer of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America; Mr. John Bencze, President Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association; Mr. Ignatius Lengyel, President of U. M. C. A.; Mr. Henry Gross, President Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation; Mr. George Szabó, President Hungarian Independent Singing Society; Mrs. Joseph Chisey, Hungarian Ladies’ Self Culture and Sick Beneficial Association; Father Frank Dismachek, Father Stephen Hegedűs, Rev. Louis Nanassy, Father Peter Racz, Father John Rethy, Rev. Farkas Rettmann, Rev. Stephen Szőke, Dean Joseph Urban, Rev. Louis Varga, Rev. Nicholas Varkonyi, Mr. Julius Bano, Chairman Hungarian War Bond Committee, Homestead; Mr. Steve Shavensky, Chairman Hungarian War Bond Committee, Le®fcburg. Rev. Rettmann, Vice-President I mittee gave the greetings and ad- I at the Dedication ceremony. Dr. of Western Pennsylvania Ameri- dress in place of Mr. John G. Tibor Kerekes, Mr. John Bencze, can Hungarian War Bond Com-1 Toth, who could not be present President Verhovay F. I. Ass’n., Many are the gracious gifts which God has scattered along the pathway of man, but the greatest gift of all is the resurrection on Easter Day. For the resurrection of the divine Son expresses the wisdom of the Father, whose love watches throughout all time over the life of every human being. At this glorious season the spirit of Easter is a blessing to everyone. For Easter means resurrection—a resurrection after the crucifixion of man upon the cross of life—the cross which had grown heavy with the trials, tribulations and weariness of life in its daily struggle to survive. At the Easter season the love between God and man is renewed, giving courage and faith to the weary and unhappy. Cemturies ago, man crucified the Man, the Man who came to teach only love; the gentle kind Man, whose every word, deed and action was for the betterment of the human race. If this Man had never lived on earth, what a pathetic existence we human beings would have —an existence filled with only the brutality and injustice heaped upon the weaker by the stronger. This Man was not permitted to live long upon the earth; but the few' years He was among us, He elevated the human race and infused men w'ith the divine love for the one everliving God. It is true that in spite of the love this Man advocated, today there are men still in the world who live not in accordance with His teachings; but in time these men will be no more, and the righteous ones will carry on His work, inspired by His words that have lived through the ages. Truly, the most precious gift which man has received from his heavenly Father is the gift of Easter—a season of rejoicing after the crucifixion—the resurrection of the divine Son, symbolizing life everlasting. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The revised “Constitution and By-laws of the Association” (Senior Order) has been printed. The books are ready for distribution. Your attention, however, is called to the fact that, due to the paper-shortage, we are not in the position to supply every member of the Association with a copy of amended Constitution and By-laws, kindly contact your bx-anch-manager and file your request with him. The Home Office will immediately fill your request and send the books in the requested number to every branch-manager who, in turn, will deliver the copies to those who applied for them. Mr. Imre Király and Father Dismaehek gave interesting addresses. Dean Joseph Urban gave the greetings; Mrs. Tarnopowicz made the introductions; Mr. Coloman Revesz, Secretary of the VFIA, made special remarks concerning the Dedication of the Liberty Ship. The most impressive feature of the Dedication was the Candlelight Tribute, which was the ritual conducted by Mrs. Tarnopowicz; she was assisted by the workers in the Liberty Ship Drive. The participants in the Candlelight ceremony consisted of: Mrs. Joseph Urban, Mrs. Louis de Markus, Miss Betty Toth, Mrs. Stephen Mazura, Mrs. Louis Kucher, Mrs. Elizabeth Kadar, Mrs. Fred Stipkovits, Mrs. Ludwig Ja>iia, Mrs. Nicholas Varkonyi, Mrs. John Szalanczy, Mrs. Irene Foley, Mrs. Stephen Szőke, Miss Gizella Stefurovsky, Mrs. Gabor Ladanyi, Mrs. Louis Szert, Mrs. Louis Diera, Mrs. Joseph Szabó, Miss Margaret Szakall, Mrs. Jolin Kipela, Miss Elizabeth Schwab, Miss Sarah Masztics, Mrs. Joseph Homovics and Mrs. Andrew Martin. Each participant in the Candlelight ceremony lighted a candle and gave a short address which voiced the ideals of Americans in a democracy. The nature of the ritual was: “This candle we light for the right to say what we, as loyal Americans believe, in newspapers, town meetings, country stores, and wherever else we may gather, so long as our words do not endanger the community or nation.” The United States Treasury Department presented citations to Mrs. Joseph Urban, Mrs. Stephen Mazura and the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, which Mr. John Bencze received, to show the fine work which was performed in order to make possible the purchase and naming of the Liberty Ship, Michael Kothe amended Constitution. Branch-managers Your cooperation will be sincerely appreare urged to give the hook only to those ciated by the who request it. If you need a copy of the HOME OFFICE. SGT. WALTER GETSEY MISSING IN ACTION Sgt. Walter E. Getsey, member of Branch 220, Conneaut, Ohio, has been reported as missing in action by the War Department. Sgt. Getsey joined the Armed Forces in November, 1942, serving in the American Air Forces in England. He has been a radio operator and gunner for the past five months in England. A short time ago he received an air medal, which is the second highest medal given in the Air Force. On February 4th, 1944, the Allies launched the greatest attack over Frankfort, Germany. During this attack 1000 tons of bombs were let down on the enemy. We lost 21 planes during this battle and Sgt. Getsey was presumed to be in one of the planes lost. We sincerely pray that Sgt. Getsey did not lose his life but that he was able to escape from the crushed plane loithout much injury. We hope that Sgt. Getsey’s parents will soon be notified that their boy is not lost but is alive as a prisoner of war in Germany. vacs. Master Duci Kregecz gave an excellent rendition of violin numbers, which were enthusiastically received by an appreciative audience. In fact, he received so much applause that he favored his listeners with an. encore. The members of the Western Pennsylvania American Hungarian War Bond Committee worked untiringly to make successful the Drive that made possible the purchase and naming of the Liberty Ship. Our sincere wish is that this ship, the Michael Kovács, will speed the victory and bring back our many boys who are “all out for victory” on the fighting fronts. The purchase of this Liberty Ship shows in a way what we, on the home front, are doing to bring about the peace. May the winning of the peace be ours soon.
