Honoring the brave – The Rákóczi College commemorates the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849
1848-49 was a defining moment in the life of our Hungarian nation. A handful of young people believed they could bring about change and secure their own freedom. While the revolution prevailed, the war of independence was lost, yet the memory of the heroes continues to live on in history.
On 15 March, the College’s administration, teachers and students paid tribute to the heroes with a wreath-laying ceremony.
The event began with the singing of our national prayer, the Himnusz. Afterwards, we heard a recitation by Bianka Molnár, a 3rd year accounting and taxation student of the Rákóczi College’s Vocational High School.
Then István Gyebnár, the temporary chargé d’affaires of the Consulate of Hungary in Beregszász, interpreted the words of Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary:
“Dear compatriots! In 1848 the Hungarian nation was the standard-bearer of freedom. The youth of March demanded not only responsible government, the abolition of censorship and equality before the law, but they also yearned to live in a Europe where our nations would rise together, side by side, not on the ruins of each other. Today, the light of the watch fires of Hungarian freedom still shines far and wide. It is understandable that we Hungarians are asking for and demanding the return of a free, dignified and strong Europe which knew how to maintain peace on its own soil and decisively stood against any perceived or veiled attempts aimed at the eradication of the language and culture of its indigenous minorities”,
Viktor Orbán said.
Afterwards, Ferenc Molnár, lecturer at the Department of History and Social Sciences, presented the main events of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849 to the students. Then Szilveszter Ferku, a laboratory assistant at the Department of Philology, performed Sándor Petőfi’s a poem, “Nemzeti dal” set to music.
As the closing act of the event, attendees placed wreaths of remembrance under the Kossuth memorial plaque on the wall of the Rákóczi College and at the foot of the Petőfi statue in Beregszász.
Anita Kurmay
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