Sandy, I already have the memories of Stutthof written down. There are 40 pages in Polish about my cousin's capture in Poland and his experiences at the camp. I am slowly translating them into English. My cousin passed away in 2004. I visited the camp with him a few times it was a sad experience for him. He had not been back to the camp since the war. Kuba On May 9, 2008, at 1:07 AM, Sandy Meeks wrote: > Cecelia: What a wonderful story! And Kuba, also. Both of you > need to > pursue your projects! Kuba, I think it is a great idea to go ahead > and get > the memories written down and worry later about getting them out to > others. > I used to work in a small town hospital and one night admitted an > elderly > man whose grandfather had started a bank in Hudson, Michigan years > ago. I > have always loved to hear old people tell their stories, so chatted > w/ him > at length about the history of his family and their place in Hudson's > history. By the time the 3 generations lived there, they had lots of > marvelous historical stories! This old gent had never married, but > lived in > a huge mansion and had collected hundreds of antiques over the > years. Soon, > his nephew came to visit him, his DPOA, and I mentioned the old gent's > history. I said, "I hope you've written all this wonderful > information > down." He said, "No, he's got it all up here." pointing to his > head. Well, > of course, a few months later, the old gent passed away. His home > has been > made into a museum, but, no one got the important information down, > right > from the person who experienced it! So sad. So sad that most of > us are too > busy to keep journals, write stories, or feel too insignificant to > think our > stories matter! > Sandy > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Cecelia" <cheinric@suddenlink.net> > To: <poland-roots@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 1:35 PM > Subject: Re: [POLAND] Has this happened to anyone else? > > >> 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 >>> >> >> ********************************* >> 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 >> >> > > > ********************************* > 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