WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, October 22nd, Dr. Elizabeth Spalding (’88), Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and Visiting Fellow at Hillsdale College’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government, was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary. The award, bestowed by the President of Hungary Tamás Sulyok, was read by Hungarian Ambassador to the United States Szabolcs Takács and presented by the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C. at the embassy’s commemoration of the anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Also in attendance was Christopher Landau, the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States.
The laudation notes that the award is given “in recognition of her work in presenting the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight, as well as Hungary’s and the Hungarian nation’s struggle against communism, at both educational and scholarly levels, and for her efforts in strengthening a positive image of Hungary.” In his remarks, the Ambassador noted that her alma mater is Hillsdale College, from which she received the Elizebeth Smith Friedman Award for Freedom. Below are her remarks in gratitude.
“It started with my family, my father, Lee Edwards, who taught me to understand both the blessings of the liberty and the evils of communism. In addition to teachers at Hillsdale and the University of Virginia...four key individuals have advanced my education in pursuing truth, defending freedom, and rejecting all forms of tyranny: Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II (it cannot be a coincidence that today is his feast day), Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty (in whose dedicated room we now stand), and Peter Szjiram...Truth, justice, and freedom underscore what we stand together for, in Hungary and America, in the West and in Christendom. On this special day, I express my deep gratitude for authentic freedom and the friendship between the United States and Hungary.”
The ceremony concluded with a performance by Zoltán Maga and his band. They played both familiar and folk tunes, including Johannes Brahms’ famed Hungarian Dance, No. 5. After the ceremony, guests were invited to a reception and champagne toast.
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