Hungarians and Americans Celebrate America’s 233rd Birthday

July 2, 2009

Chargé d'Affaires Jeffrey Levine (right) and Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai listening to the national anthems.

On July 2nd, 2009, Chargé d’Affaires Jeffrey Levine hosted a large reception at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence to celebrate America’s national holiday. Hundreds of Hungarians and Americans met to mark America’s 233rd birthday and listened to the Chargé’s remarks about tolerance and Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai’s remarks about Hungarian-American friendship.

As in past years, the Hungarian Air Force Band entertained with lively renditions of American jazz classics. The grounds of the residence were decorated with the fifty state flags and other historic American flags, as well as a series of large photographic portraits that highlighted the ethnic, racial and cultural diversity of the American people. The spirit of the occasion and the fine weather that day is best seen in the attached photo gallery.

• President Obama’s Fourth of July Message (PDF 78KB)
• Secretary Clinton’s welcoming remarks