Remembering selfless patriotism is what we do here at the Ismeretlen magyar katona sírja. This is the grave of an unknown Hungarian soldier. We honor all fallen warriors through this unidentified hero. Hungary’s most well-known unknown soldier rests in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square. However Buda also has a similar burial site.
The Ismeretlen magyar katona sírja is not just a tomb. It is a symbol of national memory. After World War I many countries established national memorial sites. These sites often centered around the tombs of unknown soldiers. The Ismeretlen magyar katona sírja represents nameless soldiers. They lie in foreign lands. It also symbolizes the nation’s war losses.
Here at Ismeretlen magyar katona sírja, we stand on hallowed ground. The original memorial here was unveiled on May 26 1929. This was on Heroes’ Remembrance Day. From then on war losses were commemorated. It took place on the last Sunday of May. We still remember them today. The memorial day was not held from 1946 to 1989.
Notice the Heroes’ Square where the Ismeretlen magyar katona sírja stands. It got its name in 1932. The symbolic memorial stone here serves as the grave of the unknown soldier. However the memorial isn’t the original stone. In 1956 during renovations they replaced the stone. They also removed the inscription “For the thousand-year-old borders”. During the 2001 renovation they inscribed “In memory of our heroes” on the memorial stone.
Gróf Bánffy Miklós won the competition. He wanted a monument sunk into Gellért Hill. Kertész K. Róbert designed the memorial stone. Fabró Ferenc’s quarry in Budakalász carved the half-ton stone. It took six months of work. A special train transported it here.
In 1951 they demolished it due to the inscription. It said “For the thousand-year-old borders”. In the spring of 1956 Gebhardt Béla re-carved it. The new inscription read “To the memory of heroes. They sacrificed their lives for our people’s freedom”.
Even this is not the final form. In 2001 the Fidesz government renovated the stone. They replaced “freedom” and “national independence” with “In memory of our heroes”.
Remember also November 4. It reminds us of the suppression of the 1956 revolution. We also commemorate the civilian and military victims of the freedom fight. On that day the invading Soviet army spared no one. They took the lives of civilians. They also killed Hungarian soldiers. These soldiers were either fighting or returning unarmed to their barracks.
So take a moment here at Ismeretlen magyar katona sírja. Reflect on the sacrifices made for freedom. Let us honor the memory of these unknown heroes. Their courage and patriotism live on.