Posted on 06/27/2011 12:16:38 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi
A statue of US President Ronald Reagan will be unveiled in Budapest on June 29 in a ceremony to be addressed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and former US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, the Hungarian government said on its portal.
The ceremony will mark the 100th birth anniversary of the 40th President of the United States.
The 2.2-metre bronze statute, to stand near the US Embassy in Szabadsag Square, is by Hungarian sculptor Istvan Mate and is being erected by Hungary’s Ronald Reagan Memorial Committee, which was set up in Hungary for the centenary.
“During his presidency of the United States, Ronald Reagan earned an immortal reputation for his role in the fall of communism. Hungary will always remember with gratitude the unchallengeable role played by the United States and President Reagan in bringing the Cold War to a conclusion, and for the fact that Hungary regained its sovereignty in the process,” the government portal said.
Alongside London, Prague and Krakow, Budapest is one of the sites for celebratory events in Europe marking the anniversary in honour of the late president.
The unveiling is scheduled to start at 2.30pm and be addressed by the Hungarian prime minister, to be followed by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen, US Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, Condoleezza Rice and two US government officials.
Video footage of Ronald Reagan’s life and work will be played at the event, the portal said.
They need some work, politically, but I would say Hungary is on a better track than the United States!
And we have Lenin in Seattle. Sickening. God bless the Hungarians.
Those who have lived under the slavery of Communism appreciate freedom much more than we do.
Liberals in the US try to deny it.
Liberals lie for political reasons.
I have gotten in more arguments by saying that Reagan was a great President.
Diaspora, anyone?
Hungarians (Magyars) are very smart people. Many scientists at Los Alamos were Hungarians. It also makes sense they appreciate Reagan. They are fiercely independent.
Also they were the only ones to throw out the communists in 1956 - they hoped the United States would help them, but we sadly abandoned them and the Soviet tanks rolled in - a very sad time. Look up the Hungarian 1956 Revolution.
And they have been fighting the Islamic invasion since the late 1400’s (the Ottoman Empire) - effectively you can thank the Hungarians and the Austrians for keeping Islam out of Europe. Much of their blood was spilled doing it.
My father lived it. I have relatives there who also lived through communism.
The Hungarian people are fiercely independent. Hungary always wanted to be more like the United States, but their geographic location resulted in poor alliances (Austrians, Germans) and unfortunate masters (USSR).
With regard to islamists, the Hungarians were the first to suffer under the Ottomans.
This is why Hungarian food uses lots of pork.....it was the only animal that the Turks would not steal from the farmers.
Another interesting fact from Wikipedia:
The “father” of the US cavalry in 1777 was a Hungarian hussar named Kovács Mihály – Michael de Kovats.
After learning about the American Revolution, he offered his sword to the American ambassador in France, Benjamin Franklin. He wrote:
“Most Illustrious Sir:
“Golden freedom cannot be purchased with yellow gold.”
“I, who have the honor to present this letter to your Excellency, am also following the call of the Fathers of the Land, as the pioneers of freedom always did. I am a free man and a Hungarian. As to my military status I was trained in the Royal Prussian Army and raised from the lowest rank to the dignity of a Captain of the Hussars, not so much by luck and the mercy of chance than by most diligent self discipline and the virtue of my arms. The dangers and the bloodshed of a great many campaigns taught me how to mold a soldier, and, when made, how to arm him and let him defend the dearest of the lands with his best ability under any conditions and developments of the war.
“I now am here of my own free will, having taken all the horrible hardships and bothers of this journey, and l am willing to sacrifice myself wholly and faithfully as it is expected of an honest soldier facing the hazards and great dangers of the war, to the detriment of Joseph and as well for the freedom of your great Congress. Through the cooperation and loyal assistance of Mr. Faedevill, a merchant of this city and a kind sympathizer of the Colonies and their just cause, I have obtained passage on a ship called “Catharina Froam Darmouth “, whose master is a Captain Whippy. l beg your Excellency, to grant me a passport and a letter of recommendation to the most benevolent Congress. I am expecting companions who have not yet reached here. Your Excellency would be promoting the common cause by giving Mr. Faedevill authorization to expedite their passage to the Colonies once they have arrived here.
“At last, awaiting your gracious answer, I have no wish greater than to leave forthwith, to be where I am needed most, to serve and die in everlasting obedience to Your Excellency and the Congress.
“Most faithful unto death,
Bordeaux, January l3th, 1777. Michael Kovats de Fabricy
P. S: As yet I am unable to write, fluently in French or English and had only the choice of writing either in German or Latin; for this I apologize to your Excellency.”
The Continental Congress made him Colonel-Commander of the Pulaski Legion. He recruited, trained, organized, and led the first American cavalry into battle. He was killed in action near Charleston, South Carolina.
A phrase from his letter to Franklin, “Faithful unto Death” (Fidelissimus ad Mortem) has since been taken as the motto of the American Hungarian Federation. To this date, Michael de Kovats is celebrated by cadets at the Citadel Military College in South Carolina where part of the campus is named in his honor. Some of his descendants live in Roseland, New Jersey.
I never knew any of that! Thank you!
I was always impressed that the Hungarians were able to drive out the Soviets in ‘56 - that took some serious guts!
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