William Penn Life, 2016 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-10-01 / 10. szám
For better, for worse The effects of‘56 on a Freedom Fighter's American spouse by Kathy Megyeri As the wife of a Hungarian Freedom Fighter, 1956 has had a profound impact on my own life. Since Budapest has been our yearly destination for as long as I can remember, I've become more immersed in that event than many others. Two things always strike me when we return. First, there's a commonality established when we are introduced to others, and they ask my husband, “So, are you a '56'er?" Right away, he is pigeonholed as being (a) one of those Hungarian political activists who no doubt had to flee the country and (b) in his mid-70's now (which he is). Then, too, I'm always reminded of my age when I hear others speak of the event. Granted, my husband's story is probably not all that different from so many others. At 15 years of age, Megyeri László was a serious and good student in a Kispest gimnázium. He despised the Communists for their godless ways and their distaste of Hungarian customs and traditions. He hated still more the occupying Soviet Army who terrorized the population since 1945. He feared the secret police who tortured Hungarians just because they voiced their wish to be free. He despised traveling across town to attend church on Sundays to avoid recognition by the local police and the subsequent punishment for worshipping. He read history books on the heroism of Hunyadi and Kossuth. He often recited the Petőfi poem that stated, "Stand up Hungarians—your country is calling. The question is: 'Do you want to be slave or free?'" He attended the funeral of László Rajk on Oct. 6,1956, when 100,000 stood in the cold, soaking rain and howling winds to pay their respects for this victim of terror. Then, on Oct. 23, with many other students, he gathered in front of the Bern statue in Buda to support the Polish rebellion against the Communist regime. That same day, he demonstrated in front of the Hungarian radio building when police fired shots at the peaceful demonstrators. He marched to the front of Parliament on the evening of Oct. 23 with 200,000 others who heard the reformer, Imre Nagy, speak to the assembled crowd. He followed his father and took up arms taken from the local police station to fight the Communists and the Russian occupiers. Miraculously, the Russians withdrew, and the Hungarian Army disarmed. He was jubilant that freedom triumphed. He witnessed the complete collapse of the Hungarian Communist regime and the withdrawal of Russian occupiers. But, he wondered why the Free World was focused on the closure of the Suez Canal and the British and French conflict with the Egyptians. He believed the rumors that the Russians were amassing to return and squash the newfound freedom, but he trusted Radio Free Europe when they announced that help was on the way. He witnessed the attacks by Soviet tanks on a foggy, damp and frosty early Sunday morning, Nov. 4. By firing his rifle, he tried his best to stop the tanks from rolling into the center of Budapest on the main road leading from Ferihegy, Budapest's airport. He was among the 10.000 Freedom Fighters who had no chance of winning against the overwhelming Soviet ground troops and their tanks. But, he was lucky not to be among the 2,500 dead and 20,000 wounded who had fought so desperately for independence. And, fortunately, he was not among the 20,000 individuals condemned, of whom 229 were executed by the Kádár regime. The stolen weapon he used lay buried in the family's backyard. Consequently, he, along with his father and brother, were among the 200.000 Hungarians who fled to Austria and freedom. He was welcomed by the Democractic world and thus, he found the answer to Petőfi's question: "Do you want to be slave or free?" He came to America and found freedom and happiness but still remains bound to the Hungarian language, culture, and traditions. Even though 60 years have elapsed, that Hungarian Freedom Fighter, my husband, is still alive, well, strong and even more committed to freedom after serving 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserves where he attained the rank of Colonel and after working most of his career in the U.S. House of Representatives as an attorney for the Judiciary Committee. Our yearly trek back to Hungary, and particularly Budapest, really commemorates in some small way my husband's early years and his reason for leaving the country he so loves. But, my own story needs to be told as well, especially the reasons why 1956 means something to me, an American spouse. First, I read James A. Michener's The Bridge at Andau, Pictured above: László Megyen in 1956 16 0 October 2016 0 WILLIAM PENN LIFE
