The people of Dunakeszi commemorated the fateful historical events of the Hungarian nation, the events of the revolution and freedom struggle of 1848-49, on March 15, 1848, in a ceremony organized by the city government, at which Kati Zentai, the IV of Dunakeszi. The principal of Béla Király High School gave a festive speech. The folk dance groups of the Csoma Sándor Kőrösi school and the acting group of the Bárdos school delighted the celebrants with a heart-warming and soul-lifting show. At the end of the city ceremony organized on Március 15 Square, Mayor Csaba Dióssi and his fellow leaders, representatives of institutions, schools, parties, and citizens of the city laid a wreath of remembrance and respect at the ’48 monument.
After the National Anthem was sung, the audience could enjoy the ferocious Moldavian dances and spectacular Gömöri cárdas by the three groups of the city’s Kőrösi Dance Ensemble, awarded with the gold Dunakeszi Plaque – Árgyélus, Nap and Csikofark – who celebrated the young people with a standing ovation. The artistic director and trainer of the Kőrösi Dance Group, Zoltán Tóth, is the deputy director of the Kőrösi school.
The speaker of the town ceremony, Kati Zentai, began her speech by emphasizing the historical significance of March 15, 1848. As he put it: „In the life of every nation, there are historical events and turning points that determine its development, way of thinking, and culture for a long time. These milestones show direction and provide guidance. March 15, 1848 is also such a significant historical event that serves as a reference point for all of us and is of general importance to all Hungarian people.”
He pointed out that we all meet for the first time in our lives during our school studies, we “discover” our historical roots, in which teachers have a distinguished role. He recalled and remembered his legendary teacher, György Uray, who, as a teacher and theater-creating specialist, defined the thinking of young people for life.
“I myself don’t forget the history lessons I sat through, when my former teacher, György Uray, told stories. He made us almost see the whirlwind of Pest, the events in front of the Pilvax coffee house, and the stories he told us made us feel the atmosphere of the events there.
I vividly remember the March 15 celebrations of my school years, for which people of all ages prepared excitedly. We tried to convey the deeper message of the events and this tradition continues today. We enthusiastically made our cockades, just as today’s students do, because it aptly expresses our main values: strength, loyalty, hope. It was good to return to the labyrinth of history, to have an adventure in the past, as our teachers led us on this exciting path of discovery,” said Dunakeszi IV. Director of Béla Király High School.
Kati Zentai, looking back to the past from today, recalled March 15, 1848, the outstanding day of our nation, the historic day that Sándor Petőfi later remembered as follows:
“At the Pilvax coffee house, we decided to visit the university youth in turn. First we went to the doctors. It started raining as soon as we stepped out onto the street, and it lasted until late at night, but enthusiasm is like Greek fire: water cannot put it out. From the doctors to the engineers and then to the lawyers, the army, growing in number and enthusiasm every minute, marched. Jókai read the invitation and the 12 points, and they recited the “National Anthem” with me. Both were received with bursting enthusiasm, and the chorus “we swear” was echoed every time by the entire army standing on the square. We went to Landerer’s printing press, which was the closest to us, and they immediately started printing 12 points and the National Anthem.
By midday, the forms were ready, and they were distributed by the thousands among the people, who eagerly grabbed them with drunken joy. At three o’clock in the afternoon, we announced a meeting on the museum square, and the crowd dispersed. Despite the heavy rain, about 10,000 people gathered in front of the museum, and from there we went to the town hall. The council chamber was opened and filled with people. After a short discussion, the mayor signed the 12 points. Enormous enthusiasm erupted!… – Budára! Buda! Let’s open Táncsics’ prison! These were the most and most often heard cries of the people. Accompanied by at least 20,000 people, the committee went to Buda to the governor’s council and presented its wishes. His Highness the Viceroy’s Council was pale and shivering, and after five minutes of deliberation, he agreed to everything. The inactivity decree was issued to the military, censorship was abolished, and Táncsics’ prison door was opened. The imprisoned writer was triumphantly brought over to Pest by the restless crowd.
It was March 15th. His achievements are such that make this day forever famous in Hungarian history,” the celebratory speaker quoted Petőfi’s words.
Dunakeszi IV, which has been operating in the city for two years. The director of Béla Király High School emphasized in his celebratory speech: “A school and the teachers who teach there have a serious responsibility to nurture and carry on our traditions. Our parents and teachers have the noble task of conveying the significance of the holidays and establishing the milestones of a country. In today’s digitized world, in which the way of thinking of our children is shaped by a flood of information, the importance of traditions and historical events increases. The school plays a vital role in this, as it not only conveys value, but also helps us to see the essence in the suddenly increased amount of data,” emphasized Kati Zentai, who, referring to the largest educational institution development in our country, stated that “We are making history in Dunakesz this year. With the construction of the Student Quarter, hundreds more students can study locally, and this possibility opens a new chapter in the education of the city and its surroundings. We have a great responsibility in ensuring that local traditions and historical milestones are decisive for them as well. It is important for us that, true to the chosen motto of our high school, it should not only follow the goals and directions pointing to the future, but should also be firmly rooted in traditions,” stated the director.
Kati Zentai concluded her festive speech with a sentence that also fits the school’s ars poetics:
“The Dunakeszi IV. As the Director of Béla Király High School, I consider it one of my most important tasks that our newly established high school, in addition to the tasks and direction pointing to the future, is built on respect for traditions and that the students who attend it are proud of our heroes, like us, and respect our historical past.”
After the celebratory speech, which was received with huge applause, the members of the theater group of the Bárdos Lajos Primary School showed their faith in the revolution, freedom, the idea of peace, and the Hungarian nation with their show Homeland and Freedom. The performance, presented with an extremely deep artistic experience, was edited and coached by Erika Hoványné Martikán.
At the end of the ceremony, mayor Csaba Dióssi, deputy mayors Dávid Sipos and Márton Nyíri laid the wreath of remembrance on behalf of the city government, dr. Grandma Dr. Clerk Renáta Spiegelhalter placed it at the ’48 memorial. In addition to the representatives of the institutions, schools, and parties, the citizens of the city also expressed their gratitude and respect.
After the ceremony, which ended with the joint singing of the Szózat, a group of Dunakesians, led by Mayor Csaba Dióssi, marched to Bem Street, where local government representative Attila Csoma praised the historical role of father Bem and the thousand-year friendship of the Hungarian and Polish people at the memorial plaque of the legendary Polish general. At the end of the commemoration, the representatives of the Duna Eszefüz Nationalist Club laid a wreath on the memorial plaque of father Bem.
Dunakeszi commemorated the historical significance of the revolution and freedom struggle of 1848-49 with a dignified ceremony.
Imre Vetési
Photo: filmkovacs.hu and Krisztián Tóta
