The Hungarian Defence Forces Guard the Holy Crown Again

On Monday, May 30, at noon the Guard of Honor and Crown Guard Section of the Guard Regiment of the Republic handed over in the Dome Hall of the Parliament the guarding of the Holy Crown to the crown guard detachment of the HDF Support Brigade National Guard of Honor Unit. After more than six decades, our most precious national relic will again be protected by the HDF. President of the Republic Dr. Pál Schmitt, Dr. László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly, Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende and the leaders of the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces also attended the crown guards’ oath-taking and transfer of duty ceremony. A great number of public figures, politicians and artists were also present on the occasion.

At the festive event Dr. László Kövér gave the Crown Guard permission to enter. Following that, the crown guards took their oath and took over the duty of guarding the symbol of Hungarian statehood and constitutionalism. “I solemnly swear that I shall protect the Holy Crown incorporating the continuity of constitutional statehood of Hungary in all circumstances, against every danger, and I shall persevere in guarding it, and prevent it from getting into unauthorized hands, even at the cost of my life", as the oath goes. “In order to meet the strict requirements of the special service, I shall strive to keep my best mental and physical condition, and lead an irreproachable life. Guided by the spirit of camaraderie of the HDF Crown Guard, I shall live and die, fighting as a true warrior, in an exemplary way, at all times with honor, as worthy of a Hungarian soldier. So help me God!"

Heroes’ Memorial Plaque replaced to its deserved place

Before the Changing of the Guard, on the occasion of Heroes’ Day, the Hungarian National Assembly replaced the memorial plaque on the wall of the Parliament, on the corridor in front of the Delegation Room. The plaque commemorates the MPs, officials and employees of the 1910–1918 legislation who were killed in the First World War. The bronze tablet, the work of Hugó Keviczky, was unveiled on October 31, 1925.

“This House is the home of a national community, its mission is to serve the country and the nation. We seldom have the opportunity to recall this", said Dr. László Kövér in his speech. “Today we pay tribute to our predecessors, who served the nation inside the walls of this House, and when their destiny called, they made the greatest, the ultimate sacrifice one can do: they gave their lives for the homeland."

The Speaker added that the National Assembly had paid tribute to the memory of the fallen; their commemorative plaque was placed near the memorials of the greatest Hungarians, Saint Stephen and Count István Széchenyi, to pay respect to the courage of everyday heroes. The dictatorship of existing Socialism – while it wanted to rewrite history – for some reason aimed to annihilate the memorial of WWI heroes as well. Only the MPs’ resourcefulness and conscientiousness could save the memorial tablet, which survived the second half of the 20th century in a dark storage room. Dr. László Kövér stressed that now the work has regained its earlier place, symbolizing that what the heroes of the past had done is very much part of us. Following his speech, the Speaker unveiled the memorial plaque.

“No sacrifice is great enough compared to what the Homeland has the right to demand of us", the Defence Minister began his short speech citing the lines of Ferenc Kölcsey. Dr. Csaba Hende said: “The people we remember today had done for the homeland what it had demanded, because they had sufficient power to do so, and believed in belonging together". He went on saying that the protection of the Homeland is the result of individuals and communities joining their forces. “The First World War proved this better than anything else before, and the National Assembly also made their sacrifice – like everyone to whom the homeland was a priority", pointed out Dr. Csaba Hende, who also expressed his gratitude to the Speaker and the National Assembly for replacing the plaque to its worthy place after many years of hiding. Now it is placed among the memorials of our greatest personalities and those realizing grand ideas, whom our nation and parliamentary system may thank for their existence.

“The fact that the Hungarian Defence Forces are taking over guard duties of the Holy Crown on the occasion of the Heroes’ Memorial Day is a milestone symbol", said the Defence Minister. “Besides recalling triumphant and glorious days, this event means a lot more: the life and death, sacrifice and struggle, courage and strong spirit of those whom we should thank for having been able to survive a thousand years of fighting. They were loyal to all what the Holy Crown means: our national unity, freedom and independence as well as our constitutional rights." He added that the whole personnel of the Hungarian Defence Forces are ready to protect the homeland. “When we look at this plaque, we should remember that even in peacetime we have to stick to the values of unity, freedom, and our constitutional rights, which stand above all. For the homeland, until death do us part!" – Dr. Csaba Hende closed his speech.

The memorial plaque was consecrated by army chaplains and the Speaker and the Defence Minister laid their wreaths on it.

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Photo: Tünde Rácz