 11/6/2017 - AHF Celebrated 110 years of service to the community! AHF held its 110th Gala Anniversary of the American Hungarian Federation's incorporation in Cleveland Ohio, and over a century of service at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, DC on October 21. The program was a nostalgic look back at the Hungarians' immigration to the US and the extraordinary service of many persons who came to the aid of those coming to their new home.
The wonderful performance of the musical production entitled "Coming to America" brought tears to many of those who remembered the sacrifice and travails of leaving their war-torn homeland and coming to the United States.
Additional highlights of the evening were remembrances of 40 persons who made significant contributions to the Federation, and the 12 Awards for Service given to those who made major contributions to the Federation, and to the Hungarian nation.
 Co-President Gyula E Balogh gave welcome greetings to the dignitaries and over capacity guests from 6 states and the District of Columbia, Canada, and Hungary and described his memory about coming to the US at age 7, about his mother telling him that he is now an American but not to forget his Hungarian heart.  He then introduced His Excellency Dr. László Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary and Principal Patron, who gave an uplifting speech about our two countries long and very positive relationship.
 Board Member and Program Chair Zsuzsanna Dreisziger gave a moving message about the preservation of traditions and memories, about the power of belonging and working together, about determination and the will to do, about perseverance and faith that was needed by the founders of the Federation, and the necessity to provide a helping hand at times of hopelessness.
 She then introduced His Excellency, Dr. Péter Szilágyi, Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad, Prime Minister's Office, who gave an erudite message about connecting the American and Hungarian communities, and presented AHF with a beautiful parchment commendation for the 110th Anniversary of the Federation from the Office of the Prime Minister, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Sémjen and State Secretary János Árpád Potápi.
 Mr. Balogh then introduced Ákos L. Nagy President of the Federation, who greeted many of the dignitaries on behalf of the Federation as well as the three past AHF presidents who were at the Gala. He listed the many AHF member organizations whose representatives were present, and gave an outline of the Federation's mission which can be summed up as follows: preserve Hungarian culture and institutions in America, integrate newly arrived  Hungarians into American society, foster good relations between America and Hungary, and speak out for the rights of all Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin, especially those in the successor countries.
 The 40 remembrances were read by Dr. Imre Németh AHF Vice President, and Ms. Dreisziger and with a beautiful display of 110 votive candles accompanied by two young Hungarian Scouts in Exteris.
The overall musical program was designed by Ms. Zsuzsanna Dreisziger, with special thanks for contributions and performance to Laszló Hajdu Németh, Magyar Kálmán Jr, Áron Székely, Seres Zsuzsa, George Petrán, and Major Olga who provided a truly memorable experience and exquisite singing and folk music.
 Special thanks to AHF Board members Dr. István Horváth President of the Hungarian American Athletic Club, who paraphrased a moving letter from a Hungarian immigrant, and Paul Kamenar AHF General Counsel who gave a  friendly welcome address to the immigrants.
Dr. Judit Kerekes, Professor at CUNY, gave the presentation "The Future Belongs to our Youth" and described the work of the American  Hungarian School Association and the Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris.
The Awards for Service ceremony were presented after dinner, first those who were no longer with us.
One awardee was the talented artist and sculptor, Gabriella Koszorus-Varsa. Her award was accepted by her son Ferenc Koszorus, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chair of the International Relations Committee of the American Hungarian Federation who reflected on his own experience with the Federation 6 decades ago:
"Having seen organizations come and go, it is an honor and especially exciting for me to address you on this momentous occasion. Why?
Because my involvement with the American Hungarian Federation goes back a long time. Indeed, when my family left Europe for these shores in 1951, it was the Federation that assisted us.
And then after I returned from law school to Washington DC, in the late 1970’s, I joined the Federation, and its Washington chapter founded by among others, my father, and served (and continue to serve) as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the International Relations Committee.
 But what explains the longevity of this time-honored and storied organization?
I believe it is due to the scope and breadth of the goals and activities of the Federation coupled with its ability to attract passionately committed, creative and highly qualified individuals from all walks of life – people who join not for titles or awards but to serve." [download his full remarks]
The awards and acceptances are given below:
Service Awards
- Attila Micheller
Accepted by his grandson Ross
Presented by AHF President Ákos Nagy
- Gabriella F. Koszorus-Varsa
Accepted by her son Ferenc Koszorus, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chair of the International Relations Committe of the American Hungarian Federation
Presented by AHF Co-President Gyula E. Balogh
- Ferenc Bollok
Accepted by Barbara Bollock
Presented by AHF Treasurer Atilla Kocsis
- Imre Beke, in person
Presented by AHF President Ákos Nagy
- Fedor Család
Accepted by Erika and Stefan Fedor
Presented by AHF Co-President Gyula E. Balogh
- Dr. Tamás Hilberth
Introduction provided by Zsuzsanna Drieisziger
to be given later
- András Evva, American Hungarian Foundation for Youth and Culture
Introduction provided by Zsuzsanna Drieisziger
to be given later
- Sándor Murray, in person
Presented by AHF Treasurer Atilla Kocsis
- Dr. Szilveszter E. Vizi, in person
Presented by AHF President Nagy Ákos
- Anna Smith Lacey, in person
Presented by AHF Co-President Gyula E. Balogh
- Dr. István Kun-Szabó
Accepted by his son Vt. Kun-Szabó István
Presented by AHF Treasurer Atilla Kocsis
- H.E. Ambassador Kurt Volker
Thank you letter read by Judit Csonka
Awardees:
  
  
  
Judit Csonka read congratulatory letters from Congressmen Andy Harris, Co-Chair of the Hungarian Caucus; and Chris Smith, Chair of the Helsinki Commission.
Special thanks to:
- Barbara Bollock for the extraordinary historical display from her museum, and Molnar Travel who arranged transportation for the New York and New Jersey guests.
- Bocskai Radio and Molnár Zsolt from Cleveland who filmed and provided the live video broadcast over the internet.
- Bryan Dawson, AHF Vice President, who designed the AHF presentation and Atilla Kocsis, AHF Treasurer, for synchronizing the Hungarian language translations (done by Judit Csonka) with the English language speeches and handling administration.
- Amerikaiak a Magyarokért Alapítvány and the Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő Zrt. in Hungary for their generous support of the American Hungarian Federation's 110th Anniversary Gala celebration, including the marvelous hand carved wood awards created by a master craftsman in Hungary.
- The Embassy of Hungary and its staff who provided outstanding support to make our program a success with special appreciation to the new Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Dr. Szabo Laszlo for hosting our 110th Anniversary Celebration at the wonderful grounds of the Embassy.
  
   
Join and support us!
[<< Back to All AHF News]
| 
The American Hungarian Federation® (AHF) (Amerikai Magyar Szövetség / AMSZ), an all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1906 in Cleveland,
Ohio. The largest Hungarian-American umbrella organization in the United
States, AHF is also among the oldest ethnic organizations in the country.
AHF was established as an association of Hungarian societies, institutions
and churches to "defend the interest of Americans of Hungarian origin
in the United States."
Over the past 100 years, AHF's mission has broadened to include support
of people of Hungarian descent on both sides of the Atlantic and in the
successor states of the Carpathian Basin. The American Hungarian Federation
strives to unite the American Hungarian community through work that supports
common goals. AHF is a national, non-partisan, independent umbrella organization
representing the interests of its member organizations and the Hungarian
American community.
The 1907 Kohányi Szózat (Appeal)
“Amerika egy millió magyarja, nemcsak hogy követeljük, de keresztül is visszük azt, hogy Magyarország népénekugyanabban a szabadságban, ugyanabban az igazságban, ugyanabban a jólétben legyen resze, mint a mely szabadság, igazság, es jólét abban az Amerikában van amelynek lakósai, polgárai vagyunk.”
“We, America’s 1 million Hungarians, do not just demand, but will work to ensure that the people of Hungary may partake in the same freedom, the same justice, the same prosperity as we, citizens of America, partake.”
- Kohanyi Tihamer, AHF President, 1907
AHF 100 YEARS DISPLAY
(click on each image for a larger version)
AHF in the Beginning:
1906 and
Budapest's
George Washington Memorial
[read more]
AHF and the "Justice for
Hungary" movement calling
attention to the tragedy
of Trianon
[read
more]
AHF, Tibor Eckhardt, and
the "Free Hungary Movement"
seeking to extract Hungary
from
the Axis sphere
[read more]
AHF Honoring our
Heroes
at the Arlington
National Cemetery
AHF and the Kossuth
Bust in the US Capitol
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Rumania
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Vojvodina
and the MÁÉRT movement
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Carpatho-Ukraine:
The Divided Village of Szelmenc
AHF relief efforts during WWII
AHF relief efforts during
the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
Key Dates in Hungarian-American Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic relations between Hungary and the United States were formally established in 1922, although unofficial contacts have been present ever since the War of Independence. Colonel Commandant Michael Kováts, a Hungarian nobleman is regarded as the founder of the American Cavalry, and was one of the first heroes to lay down his life for American independence near Charleston, South Carolina. Friendly relations between the two nations were further enhanced through Lajos Kossuth’s visit to the United States in 1851 – whose bust is one of the few foreign nationals present in the Capitol Rotunda. Kossuth was the second foreign national – after the Marquis de LaFayette – ever to be given the honor of speaking before a joint session of Congress. |
![[download brochure]](docs/110thBrochure.jpg)
