Today’s liberty is based on the values of 1956

Speaking at the national memorial site, the State Secretary told his audience that the 1956 Revolution had been one of the most glorious moments in Hungarian history, which had broken out through the nation’s “will to live". “The Soviet forces suppressed with bloodshed the Revolution and War of Independence on 4th November, and subsequently many people were sentenced for crimes they never committed; hundreds of thousands fled Hungary, and many of those who stayed were imprisoned or executed", the State Secretary said, adding that he believes that, as a national duty, all of us have the enduring task of imprinting respect for the freedom fight and its true story on the minds and hearts of the young and every Hungarian.

Tamás Vargha pointed out that 25 years ago the nation had a chance to create a free and independent state. “We have obtained the free Hungary, for which such a heavy death toll was taken 59 years ago, and about which it was forbidden to speak thereafter", he said, adding that this liberty is based on the values of 1956.

According to the State Secretary, today, when we must defend European Christian values, we are following in the footsteps of our predecessors who fought in 1956. “Today, like so many times during our history, once again we need patriots who are ready to make sacrifices and stand their ground showing intelligence, determination and persistence."

At the memorial site, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims by Tamás Vargha as well as by Deputy Chief of Defence Lt.-Gen. Dr. Zoltán Orosz, former Prime Minister Péter Boross and the representatives of several state and non-governmental organizations.

Photos by Gábor Galovtsik