Hungary’s national flag was hoisted and then lowered to half-mast with military honours on Kossuth Square in front of the Parliament Building in Budapest on Friday to mark the 60th anniversary of the quashing of the 1956 Revolution and war of independence and the invasion by soviet troops.

As a gesture of remembrance, the flag will remain at half-mast throughout the national day of mourning. In the evening, candles will be lit all over the country in commemoration of the victims.

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In accordance with tradition, the official commemoration began on Friday morning on Kossuth Square, where the national flag was hoisted to the music of the national anthem and then lowered to half-mast to the accompaniment of the Szózat (Appeal).

The ceremony was attended by President of the Republic János Áder, Chief of Defence Tibor Benkő and several members of the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives of political parties and military and state bodies.

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The official commemoration will continue at the 1956 Memorial on Hargita Square in Budapest’s 13th District, where President of the Republic János Áder and Deputy Chairman of the Historical Justice Committee László Balázs-Piri will both make speeches. The participants will be welcomed by Mayor Attila Ughy.

In the afternoon, at the National Memorial at plot 300 of the Rákoskeresztúr New Public Cemetery, a speech will be given by Parliamentary State Secretary Tamás Vargha from the Ministry of Defence.

In the evening, a gala concert will be given at the Saint Stephen’s Basilica, while from 7 p.m. candles will be lit throughout the country to commemorate the victims of the Revolution. The heroes of the Revolution will be commemorated with lampions and torches on the bank of the Danube, in front of Saint Stephen’s Basilica and along Andrassy Avenue.

(MTI/kormany.hu)