Finding Hungary in Tarnow

While I have now moved to Reymontowka for language camps, I'm still remembering and reflecting on my visit to Tarnow.

One thing that surprised me was walking down the street in Tarnow and suddenly finding a gate that had the name Petofi on it. What country am I in?

Inside is the gate is a beautiful memorial.  At the very rear there is a bust of Petofi.

In the photo above of the memorial area, one can see a wooden stake at each side. These are called steles. The one as you view it on the left is in honor of Forgon Milaly. He was born in Mihalyfalu, and as a very young man already regarded as a gifted lawyer and historian. He is most noted for  work documenting Gomor Kishont -- which actually doesn't make much sense when one cannot use Hungarian characters to write the words. His career was cut short when he was inducted in the army during World War I. He was injured in a battle and brought to Tarnow where he died. Somehow his grave in Tarnow was destroyed during the 1970s, so this marked is truly his memorial.

The stele on the right as you view the picture is in honor of Norbert Lippoczy. He was born in Tallya, near Tokay. He came to Tarnow in 1929. At the beginning of World War II he was arrested by the Soviet Union Secret Police and imprisoned there for several years, and then held there even after release from a harsh prison. He finally was able to return to Tarnow in 1953. He enjoyed collecting transparencies, Dutch tiles, and ecclesiastical  statuaries. .He gave much of his collection to the Diocesan Museum in Tarnow  as a reflection of his gratitude for the support of the people of Tarnow to the Hungarians during the 1956 uprising. He was also the co-founder of Tarnow's Association of Hungarian friends.

Finding this all was quite a surprise.