For those who bore witness to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, it had a significant and lasting influence on their lives. The stories in this book tell of their universal 56 Stories desire for freedom and the uncommon courage with which they tried to attain it in 56 Stories 1956. Fifty years after the Revolution, the Hungar- ian American Coalition and Lauer Learning 56 Stories collected these inspiring memoirs from 1956 participants through the Freedom- Fighter56.com oral history website. The eyewitness accounts of this amazing mod- Edith K. Lauer ern-day David vs. Goliath struggle provide Edith Lauer serves as Chair Emerita of the Hun- a special Hungarian-American perspective garian American Coalition, the organization she and pass on the very spirit of the Revolu- helped found in 1991. She led the Coalition’s “56 Stories” is a fascinating collection of testimonies of heroism, efforts to promote NATO expansion, and has incredible courage and sacrifice made by Hungarians who later tion of 1956 to future generations. been a strong advocate for maintaining Hun- became Americans. On the 50th anniversary we must remem- “56 Stories” contains 56 personal testimo- garian education and culture as well as the hu- ber the historical significance of the 1956 Revolution that ex- nials from ’56-ers, nine stories from rela- man rights of 2.5 million Hungarians who live posed the brutality and inhumanity of the Soviets, and led, in due tives of ’56-ers, and a collection of archival in historic national communities in countries course, to freedom for Hungary and an untold number of others. bordering Hungary. After Lauer witnessed the photographs and original illustrations. 1956 Revolution, her family escaped to Austria George Herbert Walker III and settled in the U.S. in 1957. She and her Ambassador of the United States to Hungary 2003-2006 husband, John N. Lauer, frequently travel to Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, and provide funding for many educational and cultural pro- The Hungarian Revolution was one of those rare historic events grams in the region. written by ordinary people, not leaders. This is their story, in their own stirring, heartbreaking words. Read it and remember. Read Andrea Lauer Rice it and weep, as I did, recalling my childhood memories and the Andrea Lauer Rice is the founder and CEO of bravery of my own parents. Lauer Learning, a multimedia educational com- Kati Marton Author and Human Rights Activist pany that creates innovative ways to teach chil- dren about foreign languages, historic events and culture. Lauer Rice earned an M.B.A. from History is made up of many stories of many people. It is the the Goizueta Business School at Emory Univer- decisions of individuals that can turn the tides of history. That is sity and a B.A. from Lehigh University. Prior to The desire to be free causes ordinary people to perform extraor- traor- why we can best learn and understand history through launching Lauer Learning, she spent six years dinary deeds. In “56 Stories”you will find compelling first-person personal stories; that is exactly what the book “56 Stories” offers working in the fields of journalism and nonprofit accounts of Hungarian Americans who were participants in the us about the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. management in Budapest, Hungary, and five years working at IBM in e-learning. She cur- unforgettable days of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. As we Dr. János Rainer Historian rently lives with her husband, C. Barton Rice, commemorate the Revolution’s 50th anniversary, these stories of Director, 1956 Institute Jr., and son Nicholas, in Georgia. determination and courage inspire us still. Laura Bush The Hungarian American Coalition is a nationwide Whoever does not recognize and use the language of the next Photo courtesy of the International Rescue non-profit 501©3 organization founded in 1991 generations, locks away his own and his community’s history Committee in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to mobilize The 1956 Hungarian uprising against Soviet occupation was the from the young. This book, “56 Stories,” is the dynamic garland and coordinate the talents and resources of its defining moment for Hungary in the 20th century and a defin- of fifty six stunning recollections, and sixty five destinies. While 20,000 individual and organizational members ing event of the Cold War. The 1956 Revolution was one of the the dry, sober voice of scholars often scares off the reader, it’s in promoting public understanding of Hun- brightest moments in the long struggle of the Hungarian people not the same with personal stories. If I pick up this book, there garian American issues. Through its Office in for their freedom and independence. “56 Stories” is an extraordi- I am on the streets of Budapest. I am among those who lived Washington, D.C. the Coalition has served as a nary collection of personal accounts of average Hungarians who through those days, who did not fear to fight or to live. From credible, dependable source of information for rallied against the Soviets, risked their lives, and faced incredible them I learn the meaning of freedom, and that there is no price Personal Recollections of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution the interest of Hungarians in the United States odds. By their exceptional heroism, these ordinary people made we would not give for it. A Hungarian American Perspective Photographs on front cover: and around the world, (http://www.hacusa.org) an indelible mark on the history of the last century. Dr. Mária Schmidt Historian Three young freedom fighters. Miklós Bedő Tom Lantos U.S. Congressman Director, House of Terror Museum Lauer Learning creates engaging and innova- and Katalin Korbuly, Hungarian National tive multimedia products to teach children of Museum - Historical Photographic Collection various ages about historic events, cultures and foreign languages. In 2006, the company Small photos of: Charles Farkas, Éva helped sponsor the Freedom Fighter ‘56 oral history project and “56 Stories” books about Kisvarsányi, Paul Maléter, Jr., Éva Kiss the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. In addition, Lauer Learning created and launched FF56!, Photograph on back cover: an educational computer game for teens about Revolutionary flag at Corvin Passage. the 1956 Revolution. Based in Roswell, Geor- gia, the company was founded in 2005. See Leslie A. Toth, Hungarian National www.LauerLearning.com for additional details. Collected, edited and published by: Edith K. Lauer, Hungarian American Coalition and Andrea Lauer Rice, Lauer Learning. Museum - Historical Photographic Collection Additional stories can be found on www.FreedomFighter56.com. For those who bore witness to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, it had a significant and lasting influence on their lives. The stories in this book tell of their universal 56 Stories desire for freedom and the uncommon courage with which they tried to attain it in 56 Stories 1956. Fifty years after the Revolution, the Hungar- ian American Coalition and Lauer Learning 56 Stories collected these inspiring memoirs from 1956 participants through the Freedom- Fighter56.com oral history website. The eyewitness accounts of this amazing mod- Edith K. Lauer ern-day David vs. Goliath struggle provide Edith Lauer serves as Chair Emerita of the Hun- a special Hungarian-American perspective garian American Coalition, the organization she and pass on the very spirit of the Revolu- helped found in 1991. She led the Coalition’s “56 Stories” is a fascinating collection of testimonies of heroism, efforts to promote NATO expansion, and has incredible courage and sacrifice made by Hungarians who later tion of 1956 to future generations. been a strong advocate for maintaining Hun- became Americans. On the 50th anniversary we must remem- “56 Stories” contains 56 personal testimo- garian education and culture as well as the hu- ber the historical significance of the 1956 Revolution that ex- nials from ’56-ers, nine stories from rela- man rights of 2.5 million Hungarians who live posed the brutality and inhumanity of the Soviets, and led, in due tives of ’56-ers, and a collection of archival in historic national communities in countries course, to freedom for Hungary and an untold number of others. bordering Hungary. After Lauer witnessed the photographs and original illustrations. 1956 Revolution, her family escaped to Austria George Herbert Walker III and settled in the U.S. in 1957. She and her Ambassador of the United States to Hungary 2003-2006 husband, John N. Lauer, frequently travel to Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, and provide funding for many educational and cultural pro- The Hungarian Revolution was one of those rare historic events grams in the region. written by ordinary people, not leaders. This is their story, in their own stirring, heartbreaking words. Read it and remember. Read Andrea Lauer Rice it and weep, as I did, recalling my childhood memories and the Andrea Lauer Rice is the founder and CEO of bravery of my own parents. Lauer Learning, a multimedia educational com- Kati Marton Author and Human Rights Activist pany that creates innovative ways to teach chil- dren about foreign languages, historic events and culture. Lauer Rice earned an M.B.A. from History is made up of many stories of many people. It is the the Goizueta Business School at Emory Univer- decisions of individuals that can turn the tides of history. That is sity and a B.A. from Lehigh University. Prior to The desire to be free causes ordinary people to perform extraor- traor- why we can best learn and understand history through launching Lauer Learning, she spent six years dinary deeds. In “56 Stories”you will find compelling first-person personal stories; that is exactly what the book “56 Stories” offers working in the fields of journalism and nonprofit accounts of Hungarian Americans who were participants in the us about the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.