Hungarian, Polish presidents unveil plaque as part of Friendship Day

Piotrkow Trybunalski (MTI) – Hungarian President János Áder and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda unveiled a plaque dedicated to Hungarian parachutist Jeno Sziklay in Piotrkow Trybunalski, in central Poland, on Saturday as a part of events marking Hungarian-Polish Friendship Day.

The plaque graces the local aviation club where Sziklay died at the age of 33 during an international air show in 1925. Sziklay was buried in the local cemetery of Piotrkow where locals have tended his grave ever since.

Addressing the unveiling, the Polish president said that Sziklay belonged “in the pantheon of those who were instrumental to making progress in the 20th century”.

Sziklay served as lieutenant in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy’s army and participated in air combat operations in WWI, he said.

He took a risk to save the lives of others, Duda noted. “In order to save the life of others he paid the highest price,” said Duda, adding that Sziklay would remain the symbol of Polish-Hungarian friendship.

Following the unveiling, the Polish and Hungarian presidents visited a travelling exhibition on Saint Ladislas, King of Hungary between 1077 and 1095, born in the Polish Kingdom in Piotrkow Trybunalski’s old town. They later participated in a mass in a Jesuit monastery.

Áder is concluding his two-day visit to Poland marking Hungarian-Polish Friendship Day on Saturday evening.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI