In Loving Memory of President Jimmy Carter

The death of President Carter saddened many Hungarians around the world. Those of us who are old enough to remember the year 1978 have always felt great fondness and gratitude to him and his Administration for returning the Hungarian Crown and Crown Jewels, that had been held at Fort Knox, Kentucky since the end of the Second World War.

St Stephen’s Crown has embodied a thousand years of Hungarian statehood, gave us strength and hope at times of extreme national crisis, made us immensely proud, and kept us going throughout the centuries.

Although we had to endure another 11 years of Communist dictatorship, the return of our Crown proved to be a tonic to those of us living behind the Iron Curtain and a stark reminder for the Communist regime that changes were necessary. President Carter and his advisors recognised this and made a brave, and at the time controversial, decision. We Hungarians knew that something extraordinary had happened and the wheels were set in motion.

The National Federation of Hungarians in the United Kingdom salutes President Carter’s sage and forward-looking approach and thanks him for returning our national symbols. We send our sincere condolences to the Carter Family.

Requiescat In Pace

Source: White House (https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/james-carter/)