My sister and I finally talked my 74 yr old father into going back to Poland one last time (the 2nd time since he left in 1944), mostly so he could come to terms to what happened. We planned the trip around his older sister's visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto fell in Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. They saw the atrocities at that time including execution of their father; my aunt still can describe down to the last detail the German SS officer who performed the executions. I felt they had a story to tell. With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum to see if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in depth look at the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and sent to the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did indicate I was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most of my letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this be after their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? Sorry, I am confused Teresa McNeal

Your father should write or transcribe his remembrances of the war. That way you will have them and if the museum wants them latter you will have them. Kuba On May 8, 2008, at 10:31 AM, Teresa McNeal wrote: > My sister and I finally talked my 74 yr old father into going back > to Poland > one last time (the 2nd time since he left in 1944), mostly so he > could come > to terms to what happened. We planned the trip around his older > sister's > visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto > fell in > Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. They saw the atrocities at that time including > execution of their father; my aunt still can describe down to the last > detail the German SS officer who performed the executions. I felt > they had a > story to tell. With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum > to see > if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in > depth look at > the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and > sent to > the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did > indicate I > was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most > of my > letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the > civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this > be after > their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? > > > > Sorry, I am confused > > Teresa McNeal > > ********************************* > Need to contact the list manager? Write to Marie at Poland-Roots- > admin@rootsweb.com > ---------------------------------- > Discussion of Polish food, culture, and customs are welcome on the > list as long as the discussion stays pertinent to the topic of this > list: researching our Polish roots. > ---------------------------------- > Browse the list's archives here: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=poland-roots > Search the list's archives here: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?aop=1 > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POLAND-ROOTS- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message jimpres1@mac.com

Yes, and, if you want the world to know, you could put it into a blog or make a website. Maybe even write a book. These days, besides the normal publishing route, there is self publishing and also e-books. My last older relative is in the hospital now, probably trying to die. We were going to identify all the old family pictures and label them, and as we looked at the pictures, she was telling me all about the people, where they lived, their family, and little stories about them. I was writing down everything she said! We didn't get very far, though, before she had a stroke that affected her vision, then she had hallucinations from the meds, fell and broke her hip, refused to do therapy and has gone downhill ever since. That has been about 2 years ago. She had her feelings hurt when a university professor gathered stories of people who had memories of the German Prisoner of War Camp that was in a town 7 miles from my hometown. My aunt had worked there as a secretary. She told them that she wanted to share her story, but they published his book without ever contacting her. I talked to someone with the local historical group and they said that the interviews were done, but, if I would interview her and write it up, they would add it online. That satisfied my aunt a little. But she still didn't like it that she was ignored and left out. So, I have been working on that story for almost 2 years. She keeps adding something to the story, or correcting me! I have my own memories of going to that camp as a child, so I want to add those. I think it is sad that they wouldn't accept your relative's story. I have a friend who is trying to find a publisher for a book she has written in which she has interveiewed Hispanic WWII vets. She has some of it online. But, as she looks for a publisher, her subjects in the book are dying. I feel sure that a university press would publish that book, but she wants to have a well known publisher. I realized that I couldn't remember any of the stories that her father used to tell, although people came from all over to listen to him, until he died at age 96-still active and working even on the day he died. So, I started asking my aunt about what he would tell, and then she started telling her own little stories. She is only 16 years older than I am, so I know a lot about what she was talking about. She never married or had children, so my sister and I are all her family left (except for my daughter and grandsons). That family never threw anything away and had safes and boxes at their stores where they kept everything. I've been going through some of those and they are filled with "treasures". Old deeds going back to 1867 when the town was started, abstracts, baptismal certificates, church and Sunday School certificates, even every gas and electric bill, not to mention store journals. I'm writing some of my own memories as people told me that they enjoy my little stories. And I am putting those, along with my art work and some photos, on my blog. After teaching journalism, and writing for newspapers, I have decided that I can't wait around for acceptance by a publisher. I had better just get things down while I can still remember them, and am still able to write! Online seems like the way to go, where things will be saved and others can enjoy what I have done. Then, maybe I can work on it in book form. My aunt, basically, refuses to eat, drink, open her eyes, take her medicine. But, when I talk to her about some of the things we have talked about, she sometimes adds something, or laughs. She is listening, but just won't try. She didn't want any feeding tube or anything like that. She may outlive us all, but it doesn't look good, some days. I'm still there, with my paper and pen and writing all the little tidbits down. I've been doing that for about 4 years, when we talked on the phone, were in the car, or visiting. I hope that everyone will write down the little stories they share, and their own stories. I'm also trying to draw things, like floorplans of homes and businesses, and memories, and putting those online. My daughter and grandsons are not interested, but I wasn't either, until I read a journal that a great-great aunt kept during the Civil War years. That came alive for me. I left the research to my mother, until almost all the older folks, including my mother, had died and I realized that there was a lot that that hadn't done. After I retired, I thought I would take it upon myself to label all the old family pictures that were not identified. From there it has grown to try to gather materials, preserve them, identify things, and write down all the family stories. Good luck in getting the story told. Sounds like you have a good book, to me! Or whatever way that you would like to pursue things. Cecelia in Texas > Your father should write or transcribe his remembrances of the war. > That way you will have them and if the museum wants them latter you will > have them. > > Kuba >> visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto >> fell in >> Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. They saw the atrocities at that time including >> execution of their father; my aunt still can describe down to the last >> detail the German SS officer who performed the executions. I felt >> they had a >> story to tell. With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum >> to see >> if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in >> depth look at >> the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and >> sent to >> the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did >> indicate I >> was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most >> of my >> letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the >> civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this >> be after >> their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? >> >> >> >> Sorry, I am confused >> >> Teresa McNeal >

Thank you, we are actually working on this. My sister and I are currently recording oral histories or remembrances and transcribing them for him and my Aunt who is 79. They live a fairly large distance apart, and we actually got them together in Canada last fall. It is amazing what they can remember to the last detail, especially when asked a specific question (and kept on task :-). Most often when they "disagree" on a specific item or detail, after research we find they are both correct, it was their perspective at the time. Of four siblings they were the two left together and alone and depended on each other for survival. I guess I was just surprised at the response and the lack of interest. Teresa -----Original Message----- From: poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Kuba Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:01 AM To: poland-roots@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [POLAND] Has this happened to anyone else? Your father should write or transcribe his remembrances of the war. That way you will have them and if the museum wants them latter you will have them. Kuba On May 8, 2008, at 10:31 AM, Teresa McNeal wrote: > My sister and I finally talked my 74 yr old father into going back > to Poland > one last time (the 2nd time since he left in 1944), mostly so he > could come > to terms to what happened. We planned the trip around his older > sister's > visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto > fell in > Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. They saw the atrocities at that time including > execution of their father; my aunt still can describe down to the last > detail the German SS officer who performed the executions. I felt > they had a > story to tell. With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum > to see > if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in > depth look at > the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and > sent to > the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did > indicate I > was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most > of my > letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the > civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this > be after > their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? > > > > Sorry, I am confused > > Teresa McNeal > > ********************************* > Need to contact the list manager? Write to Marie at Poland-Roots- > admin@rootsweb.com > ---------------------------------- > Discussion of Polish food, culture, and customs are welcome on the > list as long as the discussion stays pertinent to the topic of this > list: researching our Polish roots. > ---------------------------------- > Browse the list's archives here: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=poland-roots > Search the list's archives here: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?aop=1 > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POLAND-ROOTS- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message jimpres1@mac.com ********************************* Need to contact the list manager? Write to Marie at Poland-Roots-admin@rootsweb.com ---------------------------------- Discussion of Polish food, culture, and customs are welcome on the list as long as the discussion stays pertinent to the topic of this list: researching our Polish roots. ---------------------------------- Browse the list's archives here: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=poland-roots Search the list's archives here: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?aop=1 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POLAND-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Teresa, I visited the Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego (Museum of the Warsaw Rising) on Friday, May 9. I have to say that this is a very impressive and excellent museum. In fact I would think that anyone who survived WWII in Poland would probably experience the same feelings all over again if they visited this museum. It was a very emotional experience. Hearing the planes "flying" overhead inside the museum certainly brought some unexpected feelings on my part. Throughout the museum are "handouts" which a person can take home to learn more about the experience. Some of these handouts were in the form of tear-off calendar pages. Unfortunately, these were only in Polish. There were also 7 sheets written in Polish and English which gave overviews. Outside of the museum is the Remembrance Wall which lists the insurgents who died during the war or since the war. It is 156 meters long, 70 names per column, 206 columns = 14,420 names. That's a lot of people to have tracked down. Though the names are in alphabetical order (based on the Swedish system) there are many blank marble columns waiting for more names. Near this wall are several large waterproof books in which one can look for a person's name and then using the code, locate that name on the wall. When the book was "published" it stated that there were 10,000 names on the wall. Considering there are actually 4,000 more I'm not sure if the additional names can be found in the books or not. The museum has a good sized bookstore with a lot of books, mostly in Polish, but with many in English as well. I could not find a book which listed the 14,420 names found on the Remembrance Wall in any language. Throughout the museum were numerous eye witness accounts of what occurred during the fall of 1944. If anyone remembers the auction situation (a great story in itself) which took place last February (I think) regarding the letters and postcards which were mailed during the "rising", the museum did acquire the lot and had already placed them in the museum in a wonderful exhibition area. A great tribute to the boy scouts who acted as postman during this terrible time. None of this helps you or answers your question, Teresa. I thought about you and your parents while I was there. My impression is that you may have been too late (as it were) for the museum. Whether someone intends to seek out those insurgents who are still living, I don't know. Perhaps the museum doesn't have the finances to interview survivors or do the "look-ups". I did notice a reading room on an upper floor of the museum. I didn't go inside but I would guess this is where the museum has archived some of its materials. Often the only way to get things done is to do it yourself. FYI the museum is closed on Tuesdays and is difficult to find. There is no parking lot, parking is on the street. Actually it's half on the side walk and half on the street. Debbie Teresa McNeal wrote: > Thank you, we are actually working on this. My sister and I are currently > recording oral histories or remembrances and transcribing them for him and > my Aunt who is 79. They live a fairly large distance apart, and we actually > got them together in Canada last fall. It is amazing what they can remember > to the last detail, especially when asked a specific question (and kept on > task :-). Most often when they "disagree" on a specific item or detail, > after research we find they are both correct, it was their perspective at > the time. Of four siblings they were the two left together and alone and > depended on each other for survival. > > I guess I was just surprised at the response and the lack of interest. > Teresa > > > On May 8, 2008, at 10:31 AM, Teresa McNeal wrote: >> My sister and I finally talked my 74 yr old father into going back >> to Poland one last time (the 2nd time since he left in 1944, mostly so he could come to terms to what happened. We planned the trip around his older sister's visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto fell in Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. . . With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum to see if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in depth look at the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and sent to the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did indicate I was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most of my letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this be after their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? Sorry, I am confused >> Teresa McNeal

Teresa: I believe it is urgent that you document the stories via recording and then transcribe what was said at some point. You don't want to lose those stories. Those are stories that must be remembered and perhaps later archives and libraries will want them. But if nothing else, preserve them for your family and descendants. Just my two cents..... Regards, Kim Stankiewicz -----Original Message----- From: poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Teresa McNeal Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:31 AM To: poland-roots@rootsweb.com Subject: [POLAND] Has this happened to anyone else? My sister and I finally talked my 74 yr old father into going back to Poland one last time (the 2nd time since he left in 1944), mostly so he could come to terms to what happened. We planned the trip around his older sister's visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto fell in Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. They saw the atrocities at that time including execution of their father; my aunt still can describe down to the last detail the German SS officer who performed the executions. I felt they had a story to tell. With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum to see if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in depth look at the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and sent to the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did indicate I was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most of my letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this be after their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? Sorry, I am confused Teresa McNeal ********************************* Need to contact the list manager? Write to Marie at Poland-Roots-admin@rootsweb.com ---------------------------------- Discussion of Polish food, culture, and customs are welcome on the list as long as the discussion stays pertinent to the topic of this list: researching our Polish roots. ---------------------------------- Browse the list's archives here: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=poland-roots Search the list's archives here: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?aop=1 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POLAND-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Teresa, I wonder if it would make a difference if you contacted the Polish Civil Archives in Warsaw? I suggest this because the archives was collecting names of all those Poles who were killed during WWII. I second the others' suggestions that you get the memories recorded regardless of whether an agency is interested. Debbie Teresa McNeal wrote: > My sister and I finally talked my 74 yr old father into going back to Poland > one last time (the 2nd time since he left in 1944), mostly so he could come > to terms to what happened. We planned the trip around his older sister's > visit to Poland this year. They were both present when Stare Miasto fell in > Warsaw.Sept 1, 1944. They saw the atrocities at that time including > execution of their father; my aunt still can describe down to the last > detail the German SS officer who performed the executions. I felt they had a > story to tell. With their permission I wrote to the Uprising Museum to see > if there was opportunity of an interview and perhaps a more in depth look at > the archives regarding Stare Miasto. I was summarily dismissed and sent to > the Red Cross after waiting over two weeks for a response. I did indicate I > was interested in any documentation with our name on it, but most of my > letter was regarding their story. I was told they wanted to expand the > civilian side of the archive later..I do not understand. will this be after > their witnesses die, so the story cannot be told in full? > > > > Sorry, I am confused > > Teresa McNeal > > ********************************* > Need to contact the list manager? Write to Marie at Poland-Roots-admin@rootsweb.com > ---------------------------------- > Discussion of Polish food, culture, and customs are welcome on the list as long as the discussion stays pertinent to the topic of this list: researching our Polish roots. > ---------------------------------- > Browse the list's archives here: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=poland-roots > Search the list's archives here: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?aop=1 > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POLAND-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >