Historical Profile: The Hungarian Revolution Memorial

On a recent trip to Boston, I came across an interesting looking monument. This monument is The Hungarian Revolution Memorial located at Liberty Square.
The Memorial commemorates the survivors and those who lost their lives during the Hungarian Revolution, which began on October 23, 1956 and lasted until November 10, 1956. At the bottom of the monument a small group of people with only their faces showing appears just above the monument’s stone base. Above the confusion at the bottom of the mass appears a man who has his back turned. The man is carrying a flag. Above the man carrying the flag is a woman who emerges holding a baby towards the sky.
I think the monument stirs emotions of hope, resilience, and perseverance. The stone base of the Memorial has the following inscription: “To Commemorate those who never surrendered – Hungary October 1956.”
The Hungarian Revolution began as a student demonstration in the capital city of Budapest against the Soviet led Hungarian government. The student demonstration evolved into a nationwide revolt against the policies of Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin.
The Revolution created a conflict that resulted in the deaths of 2,500 Hungarian citizens and 700 Soviet Troops. The Russian Army prevailed after the Revolution and by January 1957, the country was controlled by the Soviet government.
As a consequence of the Revolution, 200,000 Hungarian refugees left the country. These former Hungarian citizens went to 37 countries across the globe in order to flee Communist rule. Most of the refugees emigrated to the United Kingdom or the United States.
Eventually, Hungary became the first Eastern European country to gain economic freedom under Soviet rule.
On the one year anniversary of the Revolution, former U.S. President John F. Kennedy commented about the historic event saying: “October 23, 1956, is a day that will live forever in the annals of free men and nations. It was a day of courage, conscience and triumph. No other day since history began has shown more clearly the eternal unquenchability of man’s desire to be free, whatever the odds against success, whatever the sacrifice required.” Kennedy’s words are inscribed on a plaque next to the Memorial and although they are from 53 years ago, I think Kennedy’s words are applicable to the struggles for freedom of today and the future.