The renewed Hősök plot was inaugurated in the capital's Fiumei út cemetery on Sunday, during the commemoration of Hungarian heroes.

Tibor Benkő , Minister of National Defense, emphasized: "to strengthen our self-esteem, to maintain our national existence, " it is essential to find role models whose efforts are greatly appreciated by posterity and set for future generations to follow. Among them are soldiers.

According to the minister, the commemoration of Hungarian heroes is a worthy occasion to hand over the renovated Heroes' plot in the national cemetery. The life work of the people who rest in this new, central military plot is not everyday, said Tibor Benkő, thanking them for their standing and sacrifice.

He stated: in this place, posterity can show their respect to those who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the homeland. Under the professional guidance of the Military History Institute and Museum of the Ministry of Defense (HM), the plot, which has been given a new and modern face, faithfully preserves and promotes the memory of the Hungarian soldier, and for the country till death! his patriotism and sacrifice expressed in the slogan - emphasized the minister, who asked everyone to make this central military cemetery a place of pilgrimage for the present and future generations of soldiers.

Tibor Benkő touched on the fact that, according to the general ancient understanding, burying the dead is the most basic duty of those who stayed here. The funeral ensures the final peace of the dead, he added. Being a military nation, the country has unfailingly respected the fallen heroes for many centuries - the minister emphasized, adding: " the serf sweating by the plow and the nobleman were equally aware " that whoever sacrifices his life in the fight against invaders in the country is worthy of the respect of his descendants.

This was also true in the First World War, when the need for central remembrance was born. However, between 1945 and 1989, according to the minister, Hungary's memory policy showed considerable shortcomings, to put it mildly.

Nowadays, however, the government of Hungary and the Ministry of Defense regard the restoration, care and preservation of the memory of military heroes for future generations as a priority task. They also consider it their duty to give the last rites to those who waited for decades in unmarked graves, said the minister.

According to the background material of the Military History Institute and Museum, after the opening of the Fiumei út cemetery in 1849, plot 52, located on the eastern border of the cemetery, began to be filled in in 1875. Since then, many funerals have been held there. At the end of 2003, the right to use the plot was transferred to the Ministry of National Defense with the aim of providing a final resting place for soldiers who died a heroic death during missions or while performing their duties, as well as for the dead of the Hungarian Defense Forces.

On April 7, 2010, the Ministry of National Defense inaugurated plot 52 of the national cemetery on Fiumei Street, the final resting place of the dead and heroic dead of the national defense, as a central military cemetery and place of mercy with military honors. The plot was further expanded in 2012, when VIII. part was designated as the burial place of prominent soldiers of the First and Second World Wars. The heroic cemetery of Hungarian soldiers who died a hero's death in the world wars and who have since been buried in unknown places, in unmarked graves, or in unworthy conditions, was also established within plot 52. In 2020, under the professional guidance of the HM Military History Institute and Museum, the plot acquired a new, modern face.

On Sunday, former prime minister Péter Boross took part in the ceremonial inauguration of parcel 52; István Szabó Kun, chief aide to the head of state, and Péter Harrach, president of the National Memorial and Mercy Committee. Greetings were given by Gábor Móczár, Acting Director General of the National Heritage Institute.

On June 19, 2001, the Parliament adopted the law on perpetuating the memory of Hungarian heroes and on the Hungarian heroes' memorial day, according to which the Hungarian heroes of the past millennium who gave their lives for the country are remembered on the last Sunday of May each year - May 30 this year. .

Source: MTI

Cover photo: Soldiers lay a wreath at the inauguration of the renewed Heroes' plot (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)