On Tuesday, students at the high school had the honor of listening to Henry Weil, a Holocaust survivor and a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, as he shared his personal experience of emigrating from Austria to America with his family during WWII. This presentation was made possible by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for students enrolled in both Journalism and Literature of the Holocaust classes.
Henry's firsthand account of his family's escape from the Nazi occupation of Austria and his life after coming to the United States was both moving and impactful. He talked about what his family endured waiting for the correct documentation to emigrate to the United States, and how an American stranger provided an affidavit to sponsor Henry's father and family to escape Vienna. Henry recounted the emotional turmoil of leaving their family home at a young age and the long journey to the boat that helped them escape.
During the presentation, Henry expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to speak with the next generation about his and his family's experiences. Sharing these conversations is a way for future generations to understand what happened during the Holocaust and learn from it. He concluded his talk by emphasizing why it is important to hear these stories: "We are a shrinking group, soon you will only be able to read or watch our stories." Henry is 88 years old and volunteers at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.
If you're interested in reading more about Henry's story or others like his, you can find it here on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website.