60th anniversary of 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight
Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza
East 12th and Lakeside, Cleveland October 23, 2016
The commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight of 1956 continued in Cleveland on Sunday October 23, 2016. A memorial program was held at Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza in Cleveland which features both a statue of Cardinal Mindszenty and the Hungarian Freedom Fighter.
Hungarian Freedom Fighter statue
Cardinal Mindszenty statue
Master of Ceremonies Michael Horvath welcomed the crowd to the commemoration and led the crowd as they sang the national anthems of the United States and Hungary.
Michael Horvath
NOTE: All the images below with a white arrow in the middle are videos. (The other images are just photos) You can click on the white arrow to watch the video of whatever is described. Make sure your speakers are on and you can make the video full screen once it begins by clicking the icon in the lower right corner.
Horvath then introduced young Hungarian Scout Julian Balassy who recited a poem in Hungarian.
Julian Balassy
Next, Andrea Meszaros from board of the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society and Museum spoke in Hungarian about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Andrea Meszaros
Next, Michael Horvath led a prayer for the 1956ers. The crowd said the Our Father in Hungarian.
Michael Horvath
Two 1956ers and two young Hungarian American Scouts placed wreaths at the statues of the 1956 Freedom Fighter and Cardinal Mindszenty at the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 in Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza in Cleveland, Ohio. Then Steve Kekedy, one of the 1956ers, said a few words in Hungarian.
1956er Steve Kekedy
After the wreaths, some members of the crowd placed flowers at the statues.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai of the First Hungarian Reformed Church in Cleveland spoke next at the commemoration.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai
Finally, Master of Ceremonies Michael Horvath retired the Hungarian Scout Honor Guard which ended the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 in Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Enjoy these other images from the 60th anniversary event.
(As always if we made a mistake with a name or you can help ID someone please let us know.)
Hungarian 1956ers at Freedom Fighter statue:
Jim Balogh, Edith Lauer, Steve Kekedy,
Thomas Ratoni-Nagy, Ilona Balassy
Cardinal Mindszenty statue
Hungarian Scouts
Hungarian Scouts
Singing the National Anthems
Ernie Mihaly with 1956er Imre Balogh and wife Carolyn
Rev. Csaba Krasznai and 1956er Steve Kekedy
1956er Thomas Ratoni-Nagy at Cardinal Mindszenty statue
Young Hungarian Scouts at Freedom Fighter statue
1956ers Steve Kekedy and Edith Lauer
1956er Steve Kekedy
Michael Horvath
Placing wreath at Cardinal Mindszenty statue
Ernie Mihaly and 56er Steve Kekedy
Ernie Mihaly with 1956er Imre Balogh and wife Carolyn
The Crack in the Berlin Wall began with a hole in a flag in Budapest!
As President John F. Kennedy said "October 23, 1956 is a day that will live forever in the annals of free men and nations. It was a day of courage, conscience and triumph. No other day since history began has shown more clearly the eternal unquenchability of man's desire to be free, whatever the odds against success, whatever the sacrifice required."
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