Special Guest- Mildred Schindler Janzen
What a privilege to be able to host Mildred Schindler Janzen, as she told about life lessons from her book: Surviving Hitler, Evading Stalin.
Thank you, to Jessica Neeland for organizing the event & sharing this memorable book & experience with her 8th Grade Social Studies students & with all of us.
The program, funded by a grant from the South Central Community Foundation, was open to students & the public.Around 100 people were in attendance, including nearly 70 Junior High & High School students.
We’re grateful to Macksville Grace Church for the loan of extra chairs & to the City of Macksville for the loan of their speaker system.
(A new audio visual system is on our wish-list at the library, but we’re taking it one grant at a time!)
Mildred spoke to audience, sharing facts & inspirational stories from her life journey from Kansas to Germany & thankfully back to Kansas, during the harrowing years of WWII. She answered questions from students & adults, & she moved her listeners with her remembrances from a time we can only read about.
On a table, she shared maps, photos, & mementos from her life, including copies of the items her father had buried in their basement (providing her eventual ticket back to Kansas!), & even the tiny suitcase that she carried on her voyage to America as a German speaking teenager traveling all alone.
After the program, there were hugs, touching conversations, lots of selfies, & of course, cookies!
It was an event these kids will not soon forget, & we were happy to be a part of it.
♥
If you would like a copy of Mildred’s book, please contact the library.
Mildred has graciously allowed us to use proceeds from book sales to help support the library, & she has provided us with signed bookplates, stickers & bookmarks to include with each book.
(We are also thankful to the young men above, who helped move the chairs & podium back to Grace Church!)
Mildred urged listeners to be watchful, to be informed, & to be aware, as history has a way of repeating itself.
She also encouraged us to Be Kind. Great words to live by…. ♥
Thank you Jody,Jessica and the Macksville community for such a warm welcome . We thoroughly enjoyed our time with you all this morning . What a remarkable turn out from your community and students. Thank you for your hospitality ! Mildred & Karen
What a joy to have you both in Macksville! Thank YOU!