October 27, 2008

National Day Reception Honoring the 1956 Revolution

The Embassy of Hungary held its National Day Reception on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and the 19th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Hungary.

 

 

Czech Ambassador Petr Kolář, Andrea Bors Somogyi, Mrs. Petr Kolář, Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi

 

The reception, which hosted 300 guests, was attended by numerous Ambassadors and several members of the diplomatic and military corps.

 

 

Croatian Ambassador Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, Duna Television Reporter Tibor Purger, EU Ambassador John Bruton, Peter Hickman of the National Press Club, Portugese Ambassador João de Vallera

The solemn occasion started at 7pm with the speech of Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi. He emphasized the historical significance and the heritage of the 1956 Revolution, and announced that the Hungarian Government pledged its financial and technical support for the Virtual Museum that the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is setting up. The Ambassador, reporting about the recent decision of the U.S. Administration to include Hungary in the Visa Waiver Program, what he considered the end of one of the last remnants of the Cold War era.

 

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi addressing the guests of the national day reception

Ambassador Somogyi drew the attention to the Grand Hall Exhibition of Hungarian painter Ms. Natália Mazalin, whose two-piece composition, titled In Memoriam 1956, won a special prize in an earlier competition in Hungary (see below).

 

Hungarian artist Natália Mazalin (right) in front of her award-winning painting In Memoriam 1956 with keynote speaker Imre L. Tóth and Mrs. Suzanne Tóth

The Ambassador also read the letter of Hungarian American actress Éva Szörényi, a former 1956 revolutionary and an important figure in the Hungarian American community, who now lives in Los Angeles, CA. (Below you may read the English translation and the original letter written in Hungarian by clicking on the thumbnails, and then again.)

 

 

A copy of the English translation of the letter of Hungarian American actress Éva Szörényi
 

 

A copy of the original letter of Hungarian American actress Éva Szörényi

The keynote speaker of the celebration was Imre L. (Emery) Tóth, a Hungarian American film director, the Secretary of the Revolutionary Committe of the Foreign Ministry in 1956, and later Co-President of the Hungarian American Federation. Mr. Tóth gave a speech about his personal memories and the legacy of the 1956 Revolution, the significance of freedom and liberty, and the future perspective prospects of Hungary in NATO and the European Union.

 

Hungarian American Film Director Imre L. (Emery) Toth giving his solemn speech

The speeches were followed by a buffet dinner reception, during which original photographs of the 1956 Revolution were projected on screen.

 

The cover of Time Magazine, January 7, 1957

Hungarian national cable television Duna TV was also present at the reception, and the network later broadcast a report on the reception honoring the freedom fighters of the 1956 Revolution.