On the 60th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, the American Foundation For Hungarian Youth And Culture in Naples, Florida sponsored the Restoration of the colors in the Flag of the Freedom Fighter Statue as the most important element of the local commemorations.
Ten years ago, Andy Evva of the American Foundation for Hungarian Youth and Culture (TAFFHYAC) working with Frank Dobos of the Hungarian Club of Southwest Florida and local leaders dedicated the “Talpra Magyar” memorial to 1956. The Collier County Board of Commissioners named the Main Government Complex as “Freedom Memorial Park“. It approved the Sculpture, “Talpra Magyar”, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution to be unveiled on December 3, 2006. On the 60th anniversary, the Foundation sponsored a Hungarian Revolution Buffet Lunch and a 10th Anniversary of the Statue Wreath Laying Ceremony celebrating the rebirth of the Freedom Fighter Statue.
Freedom Fighter Statue Before and After Renovation
As part of the commemorations, a presentation of ‘Wind of Change ’56’, an EPS of Budapest Production, was shown by TAFFHYAC to Memorialize 1956. Speakers of the event included Rev. Steven Nagy, Hungarian/American Club of Southwest Florida – Chaplin, Frank Dobos, HACSF President, Andrew Evva, TAFFHYAC President, Col. James Mudd, US Army , Collier County Manager, Col. Fred Coyle, US Army – Collier County Commissioner and Maczelka Árpád, Mikes Kelemen Program Researcher.