The Hungarian community of Cleveland, Ohio commemorated the 60th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian revolution in a grand way.
Above is a flyer listing all the events that started in the beginning of October and culminated with the Oct. 23 concert.
On Oct. 7th, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival had a premier showing of the film “Condemned to Live” The co-directors Mate Vincze and Noemi Szakonyi from Hungary were on hand to answer questions about the film. The United Hungarian Societies hosted the after screening reception. There were 100+ in attendance.
On October 16, one of the members of the United Hungarian Societies, the Hungarian Association, in cooperation with the Grasselli Library of John Carroll University presented an exhibit about the revolution and hosted an opening reception. There were about 50+ at this affair.
Thursday, Oct. 20th, the United Hungarian Societies and Mayor Frank Jackson hosted a reception in the Rotunda of Cleveland’s City Hall to remember the occasion and recognize the 56ers here in Cleveland. There were 100+ in attendance.
Coincidently, the Cleveland Orchestra was playing Bartok’s 1st piano concerto on Friday evening, Oct. 21.
The Hungarian Heritage Society (Museum), another member of the United Hungarian Societies, opened its exhibit entitled “The Spirit of Freedom” on Saturday, Oct. 22. Again there were 100+ guests in attendance.
Sunday, Oct. 23 – the Hungarian flag, which flew over the Hungarian Parliament and was given to the Hungarian community in 2015 by Laszlo Kover, the current Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary flew over Cleveland’s City Hall. Fifty plus attendees were at a memorial program which was held at Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza where both a statue of Cardinal Mindszenty and the 1956 Hungarian Freedom Fighter are located.
The piece de resistance came that afternoon at St. Emeric Roman Catholic Church were the historic Cleveland Women’s Orchestra gave a fabulous performance of well-known Hungarian pieces to an audience of 400+. The well-received reception that followed this affair was hosted by the United Hungarian Societies.