Hungarian Defence Forces True to the People
2010. október 6. 11:34“Only the independent Hungarian Defence Forces that are true to the people can safeguard the citizen’s right to self-determination and the foundation of liberty” – this was stated on September 25 at a ceremony that marked the beginning of a four-day program entitled “The Battle of Pákozd”. The participants commemorated the heroes of the 1848/49 Revolution and War of Independence in the Military Memorial Park of Pákozd and celebrated the troops of the HDF Land Forces.
The event started at 10:00 a.m. on a stage set up at the foot of
the Mészeg-Hill with folk dance ensembles giving performances in turn. A
couple of minutes before 11:00 a.m. a small train arrived at the
station, carrying MoD Administrative State Secretary and his entourage
which included several military leaders who also came to visit the
meeting of families.
Speaking
at the opening of the Pákozd Military
day had a double significance, because in addition to commemorating the
162nd anniversary of the battle, the participants had opportunity to
develop relations between soldiers as well as between the military and
the civil sphere. Speaking about 1848, the State Secretary noted that
the Hungarian Revolution in that year had started a process that led to
the rise of the nation. The contemporary government of Hungary was well
aware that the only way for it to secure its achievements was by having a
supportive force at its disposal, so it decided to constitute the
National Guard.
“Our forefathers knew that only the independent Hungarian
Defence Forces that are true to the people can safeguard the citizens’
right to self-determination and the foundation of liberty", Lajos Fodor
stressed, adding that being a NATO member country, Hungary cannot
abandon the cause of protecting peace, so it must possess strong and
reliable armed forces. Having started 15 years ago, the recently
completed construction project has produced a military memorial site on
Mészeg Hill that is unprecedented in Europe, Lajos Fodor said. “Those
who do not know their past cannot understand the present and cannot
build the future either", the State Secretary pointed out.
The servicemembers of the Hungarian Defence Forces can rightly
take pride in the memory of the Battle of Pákozd, Lajos Fodor said. In
addition to performing their tasks most professionally in missions
abroad, the personnel of today’s HDF are always ready to help if the
homeland requires them to do so. The State Secretary stressed that
today’s military leaders must plan in advance how to respond to
potential crisis scenarios over the next 20 to 25 years, and that is why
the armed forces and their weaponry needs to be transformed these days.
Maj-Gen. József Kovács, Commanding General,
Joint Force Command delivered a ceremonial welcome speech, stating that
the message of the 1848/49 Revolution and War of Independence is deeply
ingrained in the Hungarian people, so this holiday is the appropriate
occasion for celebrating the service personnel of the HDF Land Forces
too. We can rely on their performance in Hungary and abroad alike
because they always carry out their duties in accordance with their
oath.
General Kovács commemorated the two Hungarian soldiers who
were recently killed in action in Afghanistan, then went on to say that
the four-day program entitled “Battle of Pákozd" had been organized for
the first time, with a view to starting a tradition. The event also
provides a venue for the meeting of families, which is very important in
the servicemembers’ life, the commander of the HDF JFC noted. “Soldiers
have their families behind them as a source of support that enables
them to do military service smoothly", the General added.
Talking at the opening ceremony, László L. Simon, the MP of the
region pointed out that Hungary cannot be strong without having strong
armed forces. The Hungarian Defence Forces must stand their ground both
abroad and in Hungary whenever their homeland requires them to do so.
Pákozd is the place where military traditions are always kept alive.
János Takács, the mayor of Pákozd thanked the troops for their
efforts and support that went into the construction of the Pákozd
Military Memorial Site, a place where one can commemorate the
outstanding events of Hungarian history deservedly. “Pákozd has become a
place where civilians and soldiers can find each other", the mayor
said.
After the speeches the members of the Hungarian Defence Forces
and Society Friendship Association went on a stage set up by the
memorial to hold a ceremony in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of
the foundation of their organization. First Col. István Görög welcomed
the participants, then Maj-Gen. József Kovács gave a commemorative
speech in which he noted that the memorial had been very uncared for in
1997. The renovation and expansion of the memorial site with new annexes
started upon the initiative of the Friendship Association. Tihamér
Warvasovszky was highly instrumental in this work, having helped the
implementation of the envisaged projects for 12 years in his capacity as
President of the Friendship Association. During the celebration it was
stated that by now these efforts have given birth to a significant
historical memorial site at Pákozd where a lot of events can be held in
the spirit of strengthening the relations between the public and the
Hungarian Defence Forces.
Text: Ferenc Demeter
Photo: László Tóth
