Speech #920127576

It was. indeed. a dark day In the history of freedom in the world. But. while the revolt was underway. the border of Hungary with Austria was thrown open by members of the Hungarian Army. Thousands of refugees made their way to liberty. They arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and soon Austrian facilities were swamped by their influx. It is estimated that over 100.000 Hungarians fled their homeland during the revolution. The Austrian Government appealed for help and the entire Western World responded with money. food. and medical supplies. But. the largest problem facing Austria was the resettlement of the new refugees. In response to this challenge. the United States offered to accept 42.000 refugees. and permanent permission to remain in this country was soon granted by Congress. An airlift was organized by the United States. Canada. and Great Britain to transport the refugees from Austria to new homes abroad. For those refugees who came to the United States. the first point of contact with American soil was at Camp Kilmer. in my own State of New Jersey. This installation. through which so many American soldiers had passed during World War II on their way to fight for freedom and democracy in Europe. now became the chief reception and processing center for the Hungarian freedom fighters. From Camp Kilmer these newcomers spread out into other parts of the country. merging with the mainstream of American life.