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HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY
The AHSCA
presents
Hungarian
Heritage Day, which usually takes place in May or June of every year.
Elderly
Hungarian residents, ages 75 and older, are honored during a
celebration
of history and culture that usually includes Hungarian music, dancing
and
food. A group photo of all the honorees that attend the celebration.
Each
receives a copy of the photo and a certificate stating that they are an
honoree of the Arpadhon Hungarian Settlement Cultural Association.
HUNGARIAN
HERITAGE DAY 2009
Our annual
Hungarian Heritage Day was held on June 7, 2009 at St. Margaret
Catholic Hall in Hungarian Settlement near Albany, Louisiana.
Thirty-six honorees (those of Hungarian descent age 75 and older) and
their families attended the event and had a very enjoyable afternoon.
Each honoree was given a corsage made by Elizabeth Bordok. Jim King,
president of the AHSCA, welcomed everyone and recognized all the
honorees. Suzanna Green led the Star-Spangled Banner and Victoria
Mocsary led the Hungarian National Anthem. Elizabeth Bordok read a
history about Hungarian Settlement and St. Margaret Catholic Church
regarding its upcoming 100 year celebration in 2010. Various committees
of the church are hard at work preparing for this historical event. A
prize was given to Rose Kreko and Alex Sziszak for the being the oldest
honorees present. Frank Lezu from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, received
a prize for being the honoree who traveled the farthest to attend.
Hungarian songs were sung by Suzanna Green, Megan Green and Christina
Mocsary and led by their aunt, Victoria Mocsary. All of these are
direct decendents of Adam Mocsary, one of our community's original
founders. The songs included: Piros
Piros Piros, Kis Kutya Nagy Kutya, Az a Szép, Debrecen, Ég a Város, and Megismerni a Kanászt.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success. Bill Prokop
took photos and Victoria Mocsary created a photo collage for each
honoree.
Victoria Mocsary (on guitar) performs Hungarian Folk songs
with Megan Green, Christina Mocsary and Suzanna Green with handmade
strawberry quilt crafted by Elizabeth Ivanyisky Bordok hanging as
backdrop behind.
From left to
right around table: Mary Ann Glodan Wax, her sister, Anna Glodan
Kirby, Rose Kovach Kreko speaking with Clara Olah, Helen
Chaucer Galladora, Robert Lee, Nick and Ethel Erdey, Julius
Megyesi, Joe Olah, and Anna Ujvari Odor.
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HUNGARIAN
HERITAGE DAY 2008
 (left: Megan and Samantha Green, Christina Mocsary and
Jake Green perform Hungarian folk songs.)
Heritage Day was held June 8th at St. Margaret Hall in Hungarian
Settlement. Those of Hungarian descent, age 75 and over, who
are a part of or who once lived in our community, were honored at this event.
There was a total of twenty-seven honorees. Each received a corsage and had their picture
taken by Bill Prokop as they arrived. Jim King welcomed everyone followed by Suzanna
Green singing the Star Spangled Banner. Then, everyone joined in to sing the Hungarian
National Anthem. Rev. Mark Dennis, pastor of the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church
led the invocation and blessing of the food. Dr. Stephen Gergatz, Honorary Hungarian
Consul for Louisiana gave a brief message about our heritage. Dr. Gergatz recently
returned from Hungary and spoke a few words on his trip. Jim King recognized the
Hungarian honorees and presented a Wal Mart gift card to Alex Sziszak for being the oldest,
88 years young, and a Wal Mart gift card to Irene Glodan Hamilton for traveling the
farthest, all the way from Michigan. The honorees and guests were entertained by great great
grandchildren of Adam Mocsary, one of the first settlers of our community. They sang various
Hungarian folk songs taught to them by Vicky Mocsary, their aunt. Those singing were
Suzanna Green, Samantha, Jacob & Megan Green and Christina Mocsary. Afterwards,
refreshments were served. Thanks to everyone who brought food and helped in
various ways to help make this event a success.
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HUNGARIAN
HERITAGE DAY 2007
Heritage Day took place
on
Sun., June 24, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Margaret Hall in Hungarian
Settlement.
Those of Hungarian descent, age 75 and over, who are a part of or who
once
lived in our community, were honored at this event. Forty of these
honorees
were present at Heritage Day! Each received a corsage and had their
picture
taken by Bill Prokop as they arrived. The ribbon for the corsages came
all the way from Hungary! The program began with a welcome by Jim King,
the AHSCA president. Suzanna Green led the Star-Spangled Banner and
Vicky
Mocsary led the Hungarian National Anthem. Rev. Dr. Stephen Sanders of
the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church led the invocation. Dr.
Stephen
Gergatz, Honorary Hungarian Consul for Louisiana, presented some words
of support and encouragement for our desire to remember our Hungarian
roots.
Louis Bartus, President of the Hungarian Settlement Historical Society,
gave an update on the progress of the Hungarian Settlement Museum.
Vicky
Mocsary gave a brief historical sketch of the community and recognized
the Hungarian honorees present at this event. Mary Mocsary Pauli
received
a Wal Mart gift card from the AHSCA for being the oldest honoree
present
at Heritage Day. She is 90 years young, but will be 91 at the end of
July!
Joe Spisak also received a Wal Mart gift card for being the honoree who
traveled the farthest to come to this event. He came all the way from
Martinez,
Georgia! The crowd was then entertained with some Hungarian dances
performed
by a New Orleans dance group called the International Folk Dancers.
After
the dancing, Suzie Green and her aunt, Vicky Mocsary, performed three
Hungarian
Folk Songs– Piros Piros Piros, Ég a Város and Az a
Szép.
Rev. Paul Nguyen of St. Margaret Catholic Church led the blessing of
the
food. Afterwards, refreshments, that included some Hungarian pastries,
punch, cookies, sandwiches, and coffee, were served. Special thanks to
all who brought food, made a donation, or assisted in any way to help
make
this event possible. A photo collage of all the honorees, along with a
certificate commemorating the occasion, was sent to each honoree who
was
present at Heritage Day.
Honorees
of the 2007 Hungarian Heritage Day Celebration:
Scenes from
Heritage Day 2007:
Honorees Liz and Louis
Bordok,
Fr. Paul Ngyuen, and others observe the dancing performance.
The International Folk
Dancers
and audience participants dance together.
Four sibling Honorees:
George
Lezu, Irene Lezu Good, Andy Lezu, and Frank Lezu
HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY 2006
Heritage Day took place
on
Sunday,
June 4, 2006 at St. Margaret Hall. The program began with a welcome by
AHSCA President, Louis Monic. Suzanna Green then performed the
Star-Spangled
Banner. This was followed by the Hungarian National Anthem, which was
led
by Victoria Mocsary. Rev. Msgr. Leo Guillot of St. Margaret Catholic
Church
gave the invocation. Dr. Stephen Gergatz, Honorary Hungarian Consul for
Louisiana, said a few words about how impressed he is with our
community
and our eagerness to remember our heritage. He also pointed out that
2006
marks the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against
communism.
Victoria Mocsary followed with a brief historical sketch of the
community
and noted that 2006 marks the 110th anniversary of Hungarian
Settlement.
She then formally recognized all forty-six honorees that were present
at
the event. Because of all his support for Heritage Day over the past
few
years, Fr. Leo Guillot was made an honorary Hungarian for the
day.
After the recognition of the seniors of Hungarian descent, age 75 and
older
(the honorees), special gifts were handed out. Mary Mocsary Pauli
received
a Wal-Mart gift card and a hand-painted wooden Hungarian doll for being
the oldest honoree at this event. She was 89 at Heritage Day, but just
turned 90 years old at the end of July! Ernest Breda, who came all the
way from Beaumont, Texas to attend this event, received a prize (a
wooden
frame to hold his Honoree Certificate) for being the honoree who
traveled
the farthest to come to Heritage Day. A dance group, called the Denim
and
Lace Cloggers, then performed a series of fast-moving numbers that
fascinated
the crowd. The rest of the afternoon’s entertainment consisted of
Hungarian
dancing and singing. Tonya King, Sue Nyeki Martin, Victoria Mocsary,
Nichole
King Smith, and Chris Maklary Thornhill performed the Somogy
Karikázó,
a women’s circle dance. Helen Fekete Nyeki then sang one of the
community’s
all time favorites, Részeg Vagyok Rózsám. Paul
Bates
and Tom Mocsary then joined the other dancers with the Olahos, which is
a jumping dance. Helen Nyeki followed this dance with the song,
Kapitán
Uram. Paul Bates and Tom Mocsary finalized the entertainment with the
Géncsi,
a men’s recruiting dance. Rev. Robert Weathersby of the Albany
Hungarian
Presbyterian Church blessed the food and everyone present was able to
then
partake of the delicious foods the included Hungarian pastries among
other
delicacies. An photo was taken of each honoree and later put together
in
a collage, creating an 8 x 10 group picture. A copy was later given to
each honoree as a memento of Hungarian Heritage Day in Hungarian
Settlement,
2006.
PHOTO
OF
THE HONOREES FROM THE 2006 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION:
HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY 2005
The Árpádhon
Hungarian
Settlement Cultural Association (AHSCA) sponsored its annual Hungarian
Heritage Day on Sunday, June 5, 2005 at St. Margaret Hall near Albany.
Honorees (those of Hungarian descent, ages 75 and over) were greeted at
the door and presented with a special certificate commemorating the
occasion.
Each also received a “Hungarian Honoree, 2005" button to wear during
the
celebration. The buttons were white with red lettering and decorated
with
red, white and green ribbons. Individual photographs of the honorees
were
taken by Bill Prokop as they came in the door. A total of 43 honorees
attended
this year’s event!! AHSCA President, Jim King, started the program by
welcoming
the crowd and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Suzanna Green, daughter
of Kathleen Mocsary Green, then sang the Star-Spangled Banner.
Immediately
following, Victoria Mocsary, led the singing of the Hungarian National
Anthem. Rev. Dr. Stephen Sanders of the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian
Church
led the invocation prayer. The program was then turned over to Victoria
Mocsary, chair of the Heritage Day Committee. Mocsary officially
recognized
the honorees, calling each of them by name. Next, door prizes were
handed
out to two lucky honorees. Ninety-three-year-old Elizabeth King
received
a beautiful floral bouquet and a prize ribbon for being the oldest
honoree
at the event. Stephen King, who came all the way from Kempner, Texas
received
a package of Hungarian playing cards and a prize ribbon for being the
honoree
who traveled the farthest to attend this event. The entertainment for
the
afternoon began with the Gáncsi, a Hungarian men’s dance
performed
by Paul Bates, Mike Erdey, Marty Farkas, and Tom Mocsary. Suzanna Green
and Victoria Mocsary then performed the following songs in Hungarian:
Ég
a Város and Debrecen. Next, a local children’s dance group,
called
The Little Gypsies, performed a series of dances to Hungarian melodies.
The conclusion of the program came when ten year olds, Jacob Green and
Christina Mocsary, and five year old, Megan Green, dazzled the audience
by singing the following songs in Hungarian: Kis Kutya, Nagy Kutya, Az
a Szép and Piros Piros Piros. Aftern the singing, Rev. Sanders
led
a prayer to bless the food and refreshments were served. The delicacies
included punch, sandwiches, cookies, cake, and Hungarian pastries, such
as kiflik and kalács. The Heritage Day committee: Kathleen
Green,
Victoria Mocsary, Julia Ourso, and Margaret Resetar, would like to
thank
all of the volunteers who prepared food or helped in any way to make
this
event possible.
PHOTO
OF
THE HONOREES FROM THE 2005 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION:
HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY 2004
The Árpádhon
Hungarian
Settlement Cultural Association (AHSCA) sponsored its annual Hungarian
Heritage Day on Sunday, June 13, 2004 at St. Margaret Hall near Albany.
Honorees (those of Hungarian descent, ages 75 and over) were greeted at
the door and presented with a special certificate commemorating the
occasion.
Each also received a “Hungarian Honoree, 2004" button to wear during
the
celebration. The buttons were white with green lettering and decorated
with red, white and green ribbons. Individual photographs of the
honorees
were taken by Bill Prokop as they came in the door. A total of 47
honorees
attended this year’s event!! After AHSCA President, Jim King welcomed
the
crowd, Suzanna Green, daughter of Kathleen Mocsary Green, sang the
Star-Spangled
Banner. Rev. Dr. Stephen Sanders of the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian
Church
did the invocation prayer, which was followed by a brief speech by Dr.
Stephen Gergatz, Honorary Hungarian Consul for Louisiana. Gergatz
discussed
his support of the event and stressed how pleased he was to see the
community
continue to celebrate its heritage. The center of attraction during
this
program was a beautiful Hungarian flag which is over 100 years old.
Gergatz
confirmed the authenticity and age of this flag and briefly discussed
its
historical significance. The flag was brought to the U.S. by Steve
Resetar,
one of the earliest immigrants to settle here. The owners of the flag,
Michael and Joe Jenkins, graciously loaned the flag to the AHSCA for
the
day in memory of their mother, Helen Prokop Jenkins, who passed away
this
past year. The entertainment for this event was provided by Suzanna
Green
and Victoria Mocsary, who performed the following songs in Hungarian:
Ég
a Város, Debrecen, Megismérni a Kanászt,
Kék
Nefeléjcs and Piros Piros, Piros. Mocsary, chair of the Heritage
Day Committee, then reflected on the history of the community and
officially
recognized the honorees, calling each one by name. This Hungarian
Heritage
Day was dedicated to the memories of three AHSCA members who devoted
large
amounts of their time to the preservation of the Hungarian culture in
the
community: Betsy King, David Arceneaux, and Horace Green. Their
families
were presented with framed certificates posthumously declaring Betsy,
David,
and Horace to be Hungarian Honorees at this event. One of the
highlights
of the day was when door prizes were handed out to more than fifteen
lucky
honorees. One of the top honors went to Elizabeth King, 92 years old,
who
received a floral bouquet and a hand painted wooden box from Hungary
for
being the oldest honoree present at the celebration. Ethel Ivanyisky
Hudak
received a gift basket of Hungarian food items from the Olde World
Bakery
for being the honoree who traveled the farthest to come to Heritage
Day.
She came all the way from Merriville, Indiana, which is over 900 miles
away! A special thanks goes to Diane Szegfu, who graciously donated
several
hand painted items from Hungary to be given out as door prizes. The
last
performance of the day featured Suzanna Green singing the song Please
Remember.
The program closed with a benediction prayer and the blessing of the
food
by the Rev. Msgr. Leo Guillot of St. Margaret Catholic Church. The
refreshments
that followed included punch, sandwiches, and Hungarian pastries, such
as kiflik and kalács. The Heritage Day committee: Kathleen
Green,
Victoria Mocsary, Julia Ourso, and Margaret Resetar, would like to
thank
all of the volunteers who prepared food or helped in any way to make
this
event possible.
PHOTO
OF
THE HONOREES FROM THE 2004 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION:
HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY 2003
Our Annual Hungarian
Heritage
Day took place on Sunday, June 1, 2003 at St. Margaret Catholic Hall. A
record number of honorees, fifty-eight in all, attended this event! The
ceremony began when all those present were welcomed by AHSCA president,
Jim King. Suzie Green then sang the Star-Spangled Banner, which was
immediately
followed by everyone singing A Magyar Himnusz (the Hungarian National
Anthem).
Reverend Dr. Stephen Sanders did the invocation and the AHSCA dancers,
led by Sue Martin, entertained the crowd with ethnic-style dancing.
This
portion of the program began with a Hungarian men’s dance called the
Gencsy
Verbunk, which was performed by Mike Erdey, Marty Farkas, Adam Green,
and
Thomas Mocsary. Suzie Green and Vicky Mocsary then sang two Hungarian
songs
called, Megismerni a Kanast and Eg a Varos. A second Hungarian dance, a
circle dance for men and women, called the Olahos, highlighted dancers
that included Tanya King and Nicole Smith. Following the dancing,
everyone
joined in for a Hungarian sing-a-long led by Vicky Mocsary. To
commemorate
this occasion, each honoree (those of Hungarian descent, ages 75 and
older)
were recognized and given a certificate from the AHSCA. Our own
president,
Jim King, was among the honorees at this event! The honorees then lined
up for a group photograph to be taken. Each honoree will receive a copy
of this photo as a memento. Another highlight of the afternoon was when
door prizes were handed out. Ethel Filczer Hoover, who is 94 years old,
received a beautiful floral centerpiece for being the oldest honoree
present
at this event. Stephen King from Kempner, Texas, received a door prize
for the honoree who came the farthest to attend the Heritage Day
Celebration!
The crowd received a special treat at the conclusion of the program
when
the Daisy Girl Scouts, Troop 421, sang The Grand Old Flag. Rev. Dr.
Stephens
Sanders then blessed the food and all those present joined in to taste
the goodies that were displayed on the food table. Among the delicious
treats were some Hungarian pastries, such as kiflis and kalacs.
The Heritage Day
Committee,
Kathleen
Green, Vicky Mocsary, Julia Ourso, and Margaret Resetar, would like to
thank all those people who helped make this event possible! Many, many
thanks goes to all of the people who donated food or helped in various
other ways at this event. This could not be done without all of you!
PHOTO
OF
THE HONOREES FROM THE 2003 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION:
Front Row Seated: Alice Vargo
Hamilton, Helen
Chaucer Galladora, Ruby Petho, Theresa Friedman Ivanyisky,
Anna Vassil Friedman,
Eleanor
Yager Bates,
Ethel Koles Prokop, Pearl Shaffer Manchac, Bertha Papp Vicknair
Second Row Seated: Ethel
Filczer Hoover,
Mary
Nemeth Gaydos, Mary Mocsary Pauli, Helen Fekete Nyeki,
Velma Petho Kovach, Irene
Lezu
Good, Mary
Bayus Kropog, Anna Bayus Gubancsik, Helen Berey Broussard,
Helen Glodan Kerek, Annie
Nagy Kuhn
Third Row Seated: Irene Yuhasz
Troyan, Mary
Yuhasz Clement, Rose Kovach Kreko, Elizabeth Ujvari Salessi,
Steve King, Anna Ujvari
Odor, Ruby
Shaffer
Drude, Helen Prokop Jenkins, Ethel Beregi Erdey, Steve Horvath,
Mary Erdey Anderson, Tony
Ujvari,
Anna
Beregi
Kinchen
Standing: Joe Olah, Anna Vargo
Bankston,
Margaret
Ivanyisky Resetar (back), Goldie Bartus Hudson, George Lezu, Margaret
Koles
Lala, Augustine Matusicky, Nick Erdey, Andy Lezu, Louis Chemay, Joe
Prokop,
Zoltan Koleszar, Louis Bartus, Paul Sziszak, Alex Sziszak, Andy
Gubancsik,
Louis Vargo, Joe Kropog, Jim King,
Mary Ann Glodan Wax, John
Boros,
Jimmy Beregi,
Raymond Blahut, Alex Yuhasz, John Erdey
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HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY 2002
The Hugarian Heritage
Day celebration took
place
on Sunday, June 2, 2002 at St. Margaret Catholic Hall near Albany,
Louisiana.
Hungarians from the local community and surrounding area came together
to celebrate this special day. Some former residents of the area came
from
as far away as Austin, Texas to attend the festivities. The program
began
at 2:00 P.M., when Victoria Mocsary led the crowd in the singing of the
Star-Spangled Banner. Mrs. Helen Fekete Nyeki then the singing of the
Hungarian
National Anthem. AHSCA president, Jim King, welcomed all in attendance
and introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Stephen Gergatz, the Honorary
Hungarian
Consul for Louisiana. Each Hungarian Honoree, those ages 75 and older
of
Hungarian descent, was given a button to wear proclaiming that they
were
an honored guest at this event. Each honoree was presented individually
with a certificate that they could take home and frame, if desired. All
guest in attendance were treated to Hungarian dances, led by Sue Nyeki
Martin. Father Leo Guillot of St. Margaret Church led the invocation
and
the blessing of the food. When the program ended, refreshments, which
included
Hungarian pastries, such a kifi and kalacs, were served.
HONOREES FROM THE 2002 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY
CELEBRATION:
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HUNGARIAN HERITAGE DAY 2001
 Hungarian
Heritage Day, which took place on
Sunday, June 10th, at St. Margaret Catholic Hall, was an astounding
success!
About 120 people, which included forty-two honorees and their families,
attended the celebration (in spite of the weather). The festivities
began
at 2:00 P.M. when the AHSCA singers welcomed the crowd with the song,
“Jó
napot kivánok.” Everyone then joined in to sing the
“Star-Spangled
Banner” and “A Magyar Himnusz,” (the Hungarian National Anthem). AHSCA
president, Jim King, welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.
Guest speaker, Dr. Stephen Gergatz, (in photo to left) Honorary Consul
for Louisiana for
the
Republic of Hungary, spoke earnest words of encouragement as he
expressed
great pride that community members were continuing to preserve their
Hungarian
culture, especially with the Hungarian Harvest Dance, which includes a
series of dances, most of which are no longer performed in Hungary at
this
present time. The honored guests, those of Hungarian descent ages 75
and
older, were then recognized by Victoria Mocsary, and each was presented
with a certificate bearing the seal of the AHSCA. A group picture was
taken
by Jim King to be sent to each honoree. Dressed in colorful Hungarian
costumes,
Sue Martin, Louis Monic, Thomas Mocsary, and Chris Thornhill, performed
a series of Hungarian dances that included parts of the Hungarian
Harvest
Dance. After the dancing was complete, Victoria Mocsary led the crowd
in
a Hungarian sing-a-long, which included old-time favorites, such as
“Piros,
Piros, Piros” and “Részeg Vagyok Rozsám.” After door
prizes
were given out, Betty Gill and Helen Nyeki, wearing military attire,
presented
a skit to the song of “Kapitan Uram.” The Reverend Father Leo Guillot,
of St. Margaret Catholic Church, led the invocation, benediction and
blessing
of the food. Louis Monic entertained the crowd with Cajun music while
refreshments,
which included Hungarian pastries, were being served. A ten-dollar
prize
(donated by the Hungarian Settlement Historical Society) was awarded to
Helen Ujvari for translating the Hungarian writing on the cake, which
was
made by Juliana Roberson.
Heritage Day Honorees for 2001
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