February 15, 2008

Remembering Tom Lantos – Ambassador Somogyi Presents Award to Mrs. Lantos - Prime Minister Gyurcsány Represented by Wife

Hungarian-born U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos was remembered during a solemn memorial service in the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2008.

Among those who spoke at the event and shared their memories were Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, rock star and U2 frontman Bono, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senator Joseph Biden, and Congressman Christopher Shays. Lantos' wife of nearly six decades, Mrs. Annette Lantos, his two daughters and two of his 17 grandchildren also spoke at the service.

Reading and benediction were delivered by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Hungarian-born friend of Lantos and President of the Appeal to Conscience Foundation.

After the memorial service, a special ceremony was held in the Rayburn Room where, in the presence of Klára Dobrev, wife and personal representative of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Ambassador of Hungary Ferenc Somogyi presented Mrs. Lantos with the Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary which Hungary’s President of the Republic awarded the late Congressman for his 80^th birthday. Member of the Hungarian Parliament and former President of the Alliance of Free Democrats, Gábor Kuncze, also attended the ceremony.

Prime Minister Gyurcsány was scheduled to present the award to Tom Lantos in the presence of President George W. Bush a week ago but the Congressman was unable to receive it due to his worsening state of health.