The Value of the Sabre and the Stars is Given by Their Wearer

On the occasion of our national holiday, August 20, recognitions and tokens of appreciation were awarded at the central celebration of the Ministry of Defence in the morning of August 18. The leaders of the portfolio and the Hungarian Defence Forces appeared in the arrangement held in the Stefánia Palace, and Minister of Defence Dr. Hende Csaba delivered a speech.

Dr. Hende Csaba in his speech related to August 20 declared, that it is appropriate to commemorate every year the work of the holy king, the kingdom, which is for one thousand year our Homeland. “His heritage is the sword and the sceptre, i.e. the rule of law, which is defended by the ultimate tool, the force of weapons if the need arises. Our vocation, the home defence is a one-thousand year old mission" – said the Minister, who at the same time recited the tasks accomplished in the past year. He pointed out: the present period is not the time of victories reports, but of the hard work. “What depended upon us, we did it, and it is not little. In the past year we sorted out the tasks lying ahead of us, and put them in order.“

The Minister underlined: in the new fundamental law and in the new Act on Home Defence the Parliament has created a new framework for the system of the home defence activities. “We cracked down on those, who misappropriated defence funds, and we made the first steps to building the system of reservists. We set up the Crown Guard of the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF), by which gesture the HDF gained back its thousand year mission: the guarding of the Holy Apostolic Crown, symbolizing the territorial integrity of our country and the unity of the Hungarian nation. We founded the HDF Ludovika Battalion as an independent military unit, and performed serious preparatory work for the establishment of the National Public Service University (NKE), which allows for the real revival of the Hungarian Defence Forces together with the just finished military career model. He also mentioned the moral courage and professional performance of the HDF in catastrophe situations and in the missions.

Dr. Csaba Hende emphasized: the coming year will still be the year of construction in spite of the tight budget. “Another tough year lies ahead, with great tasks. The armed defence of the Homeland must be carried out from the finances, which the nation can provide us. Therefore it is a priority that now with the whole Western world hit by a powerful financial crisis, we should treat each and every forint as it matters", pointed out Hende Csaba, and then added: home defence here and now works like the Hungarian football “little money, top football". He named the preparation for the introduction of the military career model as the most important task of the following period, but the arrangements for the first academic year of the NKE in a year’s time will also require many efforts, he said. “Despite the extremely tight budget we start with the preparation works of the crucial developments, and will make further efforts for the revival of the Hungarian defence industry, so that the budget sources earmarked for home defence strengthen the domestic economy, and create jobs in the homeland."

Addressing graduating officers, Hende Csaba called the attention, that the swords received lay serious responsibilities on their wearers’ shoulders: “If you perform your tasks well, if you serve humanely, if you pursue the career now opening up for you with honesty, these sabres will have a destiny, too. Your descendants will hold in high esteem, and commemorate all you have done for the country. These guiding stars will show the way to many a people. Keep them always shining! Never forget: you will define the value of the sabres and the stars with your deeds, your example, your self-sacrifice, your dedication, your enthusiasm, wisdom and decisions" Hende Csaba told the youth.

Before the awarding ceremony the Minister of Defence gave special praise to two persons decorated. The Chairman of the Imperial and Royal Danube Flotilla Heritage Association, Dr. Margittay-Becht András, who was awarded with the Silver Grade of the Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, the Civilian Category. He was acknowledged for cherishing the traditions of the Hungarian warship service. “He is the founding member of an important community. He saved for us Lajta Monitor. He not only preserved a unique cultural asset for our nation, and moreover for the former constituent nations of the Monarchy, but also gave a new flagship to our warship personnel", said Hende Csaba.

The Minister set Major Molnár Tibor as a role model to all of us. He received the highest possible decoration to be donated by the Minister of Defence: “For the Homeland Decorative Badge“. “Major Molnár carried out such a heroic act, which – I believe – cannot ever be eclipsed in peace-time. During flight he noticed a problem aboard his Gripen. According to the protocol he should have ejected, but he knew, that by doing so, he may risk much more: not only that the plane will break into pieces, if he leaves the fighter alone, which was purchased for a great financial sacrifice of the taxpayers. He also considered that the plane left alone in no way can get over populated territory, not by chance, either. He put other peoples’ life before his" – recalled the event Hende Csaba. The major landed with the malfunctioning plane on the secure aerodrome. “He did not threaten anybody’s life; he saved a national value worth many billions. He did much more than was expected from him on basis of regulations: he behaved as a brave soldier, a real honvéd officer must. This sense of vocation should serve as an example to all of us, who work for the cause of the homeland defence. I wish to express to him thanks on behalf of the whole nation", said the Minister.

Following the speech the awards were presented. Then on the occasion of the graduation from the Zrínyi University, with an effect of August 20, General Dr. Benkő Tibor, Chief of the MoD Defence Staff promoted sixty one young honvéd officers to the rank of lieutenant, and the young soldiers could take over the inauguration sabre from the Minister of Defence.

Photo: Galovtsik Gábor

(Click on our gallery for more pictures!)