so in 1999 I was a freshman at Uniontown high school and my history project life
high school and my history project life
high school and my history project life in a jar the Irena Sendler project
in a jar the Irena Sendler project
in a jar the Irena Sendler project changed my path changed my life in
changed my path changed my life in
changed my path changed my life in Uniontown high school it’s in southeast
Uniontown high school it’s in southeast
Uniontown high school it’s in southeast Kansas and it is a very rural school
Kansas and it is a very rural school
Kansas and it is a very rural school with no diversity and my high school
with no diversity and my high school
with no diversity and my high school history teacher norm Canard
history teacher norm Canard
history teacher norm Canard decided he would bring diversity into
decided he would bring diversity into
decided he would bring diversity into our classroom through projects and bring
our classroom through projects and bring
our classroom through projects and bring awareness and respect for all people so
awareness and respect for all people so
awareness and respect for all people so he wanted his students to discover an
he wanted his students to discover an
he wanted his students to discover an unsung hero complete in-depth research
unsung hero complete in-depth research
unsung hero complete in-depth research primary research and then create a
primary research and then create a
primary research and then create a project whether it be performance
project whether it be performance
project whether it be performance documentary exhibits or website so
documentary exhibits or website so
documentary exhibits or website so myself and Elizabeth and Sabrina we
myself and Elizabeth and Sabrina we
myself and Elizabeth and Sabrina we decided that we wanted to learn more
decided that we wanted to learn more
decided that we wanted to learn more about the Holocaust
about the Holocaust
about the Holocaust so we asked mr. canard do you have any
so we asked mr. canard do you have any
so we asked mr. canard do you have any topics any ideas any unsung heroes and
topics any ideas any unsung heroes and
topics any ideas any unsung heroes and he said well I’ve got this box of
he said well I’ve got this box of
he said well I’ve got this box of clippings newspaper magazine articles
clippings newspaper magazine articles
clippings newspaper magazine articles why don’t you go through it see if you
why don’t you go through it see if you
why don’t you go through it see if you find anything interesting so we found in
find anything interesting so we found in
find anything interesting so we found in 1994 News and World Report article
1994 News and World Report article
1994 News and World Report article entitled other Schindler’s it featured a
entitled other Schindler’s it featured a
entitled other Schindler’s it featured a rescuer stories and one of the
rescuer stories and one of the
rescuer stories and one of the paragraphs said Amana Sandler ovah saved
paragraphs said Amana Sandler ovah saved
paragraphs said Amana Sandler ovah saved over 2,500 Jewish children from the
over 2,500 Jewish children from the
over 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust 2,500
Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust 2,500
Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust 2,500 if she saved twice as many plus as Oscar
if she saved twice as many plus as Oscar
if she saved twice as many plus as Oscar Schindler and he’s in our history books
Schindler and he’s in our history books
Schindler and he’s in our history books and there’s a movie about him why
and there’s a movie about him why
and there’s a movie about him why haven’t we heard about her this has to
haven’t we heard about her this has to
haven’t we heard about her this has to be a typographical error that was our
be a typographical error that was our
be a typographical error that was our immediate thought so we asked mr. canard
immediate thought so we asked mr. canard
immediate thought so we asked mr. canard have you heard of this woman do you know
have you heard of this woman do you know
have you heard of this woman do you know her story is that I haven’t heard of her
her story is that I haven’t heard of her
her story is that I haven’t heard of her why don’t you do a Google search so we
why don’t you do a Google search so we
why don’t you do a Google search so we typed in her name one hit today if you
typed in her name one hit today if you
typed in her name one hit today if you google Irena Sendler you will find
google Irena Sendler you will find
google Irena Sendler you will find between 400 to 800 thousand hits out
between 400 to 800 thousand hits out
between 400 to 800 thousand hits out there on the Internet when we started
there on the Internet when we started
there on the Internet when we started with one so we went to the Midwest
with one so we went to the Midwest
with one so we went to the Midwest Center for Holocaust education we went
Center for Holocaust education we went
Center for Holocaust education we went to the Kansas State Historical Society
to the Kansas State Historical Society
to the Kansas State Historical Society University Libraries trying to find
University Libraries trying to find
University Libraries trying to find information
information
information about Irena Sendler there was nothing in
about Irena Sendler there was nothing in
about Irena Sendler there was nothing in English about her so her mr. canard
English about her so her mr. canard
English about her so her mr. canard suggestion we start researching the
suggestion we start researching the
suggestion we start researching the Warsaw Ghetto World War two the
Warsaw Ghetto World War two the
Warsaw Ghetto World War two the Holocaust other rescuers stories to try
Holocaust other rescuers stories to try
Holocaust other rescuers stories to try and write our performance and we started
and write our performance and we started
and write our performance and we started searching for her burial site because
searching for her burial site because
searching for her burial site because she would have been 91 years old at this
she would have been 91 years old at this
she would have been 91 years old at this point in high school you really don’t
point in high school you really don’t
point in high school you really don’t think people live to be 91 I don’t feel
think people live to be 91 I don’t feel
think people live to be 91 I don’t feel that way now so we were emailing people
that way now so we were emailing people
that way now so we were emailing people saying do you know where she’s buried
saying do you know where she’s buried
saying do you know where she’s buried and we got an email saying she’s still
and we got an email saying she’s still
and we got an email saying she’s still alive she lives in Warsaw here’s her
alive she lives in Warsaw here’s her
alive she lives in Warsaw here’s her address we were blown away immediately
address we were blown away immediately
address we were blown away immediately we wrote a letter we sent a copy of our
we wrote a letter we sent a copy of our
we wrote a letter we sent a copy of our script pictures of us and money for her
script pictures of us and money for her
script pictures of us and money for her to send the letter back to us and we
to send the letter back to us and we
to send the letter back to us and we walked to the post office in our town of
walked to the post office in our town of
walked to the post office in our town of 200 people and we started thinking why
200 people and we started thinking why
200 people and we started thinking why would a woman in Eastern Europe care
would a woman in Eastern Europe care
would a woman in Eastern Europe care about kids in rural Kansas so I’ll never
about kids in rural Kansas so I’ll never
about kids in rural Kansas so I’ll never forget the day when Liz came running
forget the day when Liz came running
forget the day when Liz came running down the hallway shouting we got a
down the hallway shouting we got a
down the hallway shouting we got a letter we got a letter so we’re so
letter we got a letter so we’re so
letter we got a letter so we’re so excited we pulled the letter out it’s
excited we pulled the letter out it’s
excited we pulled the letter out it’s all in Polish
all in Polish
all in Polish so seven pages handwritten and the very
so seven pages handwritten and the very
so seven pages handwritten and the very first line that our translator told us
first line that our translator told us
first line that our translator told us it said to my dear and beloved girls
it said to my dear and beloved girls
it said to my dear and beloved girls very close to my heart and in this first
very close to my heart and in this first
very close to my heart and in this first letter she started to share with us how
letter she started to share with us how
letter she started to share with us how she saved these children why she saved
she saved these children why she saved
she saved these children why she saved the children she told us she had
the children she told us she had
the children she told us she had nightmares every single night of her
nightmares every single night of her
nightmares every single night of her life she continued ask herself did I do
life she continued ask herself did I do
life she continued ask herself did I do enough could I have done more so that’s
enough could I have done more so that’s
enough could I have done more so that’s our question as we present as we
our question as we present as we
our question as we present as we continue to share her story and that’s
continue to share her story and that’s
continue to share her story and that’s my question for you today
my question for you today
my question for you today are you doing enough can you do more in
are you doing enough can you do more in
are you doing enough can you do more in the world around you to change it and
the world around you to change it and
the world around you to change it and make it a better place
Irina would go into the Warsaw Ghetto
Irina would go into the Warsaw Ghetto almost daily as 1939 Germany invaded
almost daily as 1939 Germany invaded
almost daily as 1939 Germany invaded Poland Irena Sendler had had heard what
Poland Irena Sendler had had heard what
Poland Irena Sendler had had heard what was happening in Germany and so she
was happening in Germany and so she
was happening in Germany and so she started gathering collaborators she was
started gathering collaborators she was
started gathering collaborators she was very high up in the Social Welfare
very high up in the Social Welfare
very high up in the Social Welfare Department in Warsaw and she had the
Department in Warsaw and she had the
Department in Warsaw and she had the ability to make false documents to get
ability to make false documents to get
ability to make false documents to get the signature she needed she started
the signature she needed she started
the signature she needed she started finding hiding places before the ghetto
finding hiding places before the ghetto
finding hiding places before the ghetto was even formed she’s hiding her Jewish
was even formed she’s hiding her Jewish
was even formed she’s hiding her Jewish friends Jewish families children she’s
friends Jewish families children she’s
friends Jewish families children she’s putting them in safe places and then the
putting them in safe places and then the
putting them in safe places and then the ghettos forming and families are being
ghettos forming and families are being
ghettos forming and families are being forced into the ghetto so then she has
forced into the ghetto so then she has
forced into the ghetto so then she has to start going into the ghetto and she
to start going into the ghetto and she
to start going into the ghetto and she has false documents stating she’s a
has false documents stating she’s a
has false documents stating she’s a nurse so she has access to go in and out
nurse so she has access to go in and out
nurse so she has access to go in and out of the ghetto her collaborators are
of the ghetto her collaborators are
of the ghetto her collaborators are going in and out as much as she is first
going in and out as much as she is first
going in and out as much as she is first she takes out the orphans because she
she takes out the orphans because she
she takes out the orphans because she doesn’t have to approach the parents and
doesn’t have to approach the parents and
doesn’t have to approach the parents and grandparents because when she starts
grandparents because when she starts
grandparents because when she starts talking to them and saying I would like
talking to them and saying I would like
talking to them and saying I would like to take your children I’d like to put
to take your children I’d like to put
to take your children I’d like to put them in a safe place and tell the war’s
them in a safe place and tell the war’s
them in a safe place and tell the war’s over and then I’m keeping information I
over and then I’m keeping information I
over and then I’m keeping information I want to reunite you that is my goal and
want to reunite you that is my goal and
want to reunite you that is my goal and they would say give us a guarantee she’d
they would say give us a guarantee she’d
they would say give us a guarantee she’d say I can’t even guarantee we’ll get out
say I can’t even guarantee we’ll get out
say I can’t even guarantee we’ll get out of the ghetto alive if we’re caught the
of the ghetto alive if we’re caught the
of the ghetto alive if we’re caught the Nazis officers will shoot us no
Nazis officers will shoot us no
Nazis officers will shoot us no questions asked if they see me taking
questions asked if they see me taking
questions asked if they see me taking out a Jewish child but the only
out a Jewish child but the only
out a Jewish child but the only guarantee I can give you as Treblinka
guarantee I can give you as Treblinka
guarantee I can give you as Treblinka the death camp there are rumors that’s
the death camp there are rumors that’s
the death camp there are rumors that’s the only guarantee I have so to take the
the only guarantee I have so to take the
the only guarantee I have so to take the children out she used
children out she used
children out she used many different ways she told us she
many different ways she told us she
many different ways she told us she could never use the exact same way twice
could never use the exact same way twice
could never use the exact same way twice because it would be far too dangerous
because it would be far too dangerous
because it would be far too dangerous the Catholic Church the ghetto line went
the Catholic Church the ghetto line went
the Catholic Church the ghetto line went right through the middle of the church
right through the middle of the church
right through the middle of the church so one entrance was in the ghetto one
so one entrance was in the ghetto one
so one entrance was in the ghetto one was on the Aryan side they would take
was on the Aryan side they would take
was on the Aryan side they would take the child in teach the child polish
the child in teach the child polish
the child in teach the child polish prayers they would dress the little boys
prayers they would dress the little boys
prayers they would dress the little boys as girls dye the little girl’s hair
as girls dye the little girl’s hair
as girls dye the little girl’s hair blonde any way to disguise them as part
blonde any way to disguise them as part
blonde any way to disguise them as part of the superior Aryan race they would do
of the superior Aryan race they would do
of the superior Aryan race they would do that once they were on the other side a
that once they were on the other side a
that once they were on the other side a collaborator would meet on the Aryan
collaborator would meet on the Aryan
collaborator would meet on the Aryan side and take the child to safety the
side and take the child to safety the
side and take the child to safety the court house the ghetto line went right
court house the ghetto line went right
court house the ghetto line went right through the middle of the courthouse so
through the middle of the courthouse so
through the middle of the courthouse so they were able to do the same thing
they were able to do the same thing
they were able to do the same thing walking the child through the courthouse
walking the child through the courthouse
walking the child through the courthouse one way I found really interesting is
one way I found really interesting is
one way I found really interesting is she her collaborator actually drove the
she her collaborator actually drove the
she her collaborator actually drove the tram car through the ghetto the last
tram car through the ghetto the last
tram car through the ghetto the last stop before going back on the Aryan side
stop before going back on the Aryan side
stop before going back on the Aryan side one of the collaborators would get on
one of the collaborators would get on
one of the collaborators would get on with the tram with a child sedated in a
with the tram with a child sedated in a
with the tram with a child sedated in a box and place the box under a seat in
box and place the box under a seat in
box and place the box under a seat in the tram car however if the Gestapo
the tram car however if the Gestapo
the tram car however if the Gestapo would have stopped the tram and they
would have stopped the tram and they
would have stopped the tram and they would have found the baby her little
would have found the baby her little
would have found the baby her little child in this box they would have shot
child in this box they would have shot
child in this box they would have shot the driver immediately but once that
the driver immediately but once that
the driver immediately but once that were never caught but once on the other
were never caught but once on the other
were never caught but once on the other side a collaborator would get on and
side a collaborator would get on and
side a collaborator would get on and take the child off the tram once the
take the child off the tram once the
take the child off the tram once the children were out on to the Aryan side
children were out on to the Aryan side
children were out on to the Aryan side she would place them with Polish
she would place them with Polish
she would place them with Polish families orphanages convents and she
families orphanages convents and she
families orphanages convents and she wrote down their Jewish names their
wrote down their Jewish names their
wrote down their Jewish names their Jewish parents names their Christian
Jewish parents names their Christian
Jewish parents names their Christian name their age and where they were
name their age and where they were
name their age and where they were placed on slips of paper like tissue
placed on slips of paper like tissue
placed on slips of paper like tissue paper which she put into jars and buried
paper which she put into jars and buried
paper which she put into jars and buried under an apple tree right across the
under an apple tree right across the
under an apple tree right across the street from the German barracks so the
street from the German barracks so the
street from the German barracks so the entire time it was under the Nazis nose
entire time it was under the Nazis nose
entire time it was under the Nazis nose and they had no idea
and they had no idea
and they had no idea so Irina ultimately her goal was to
so Irina ultimately her goal was to
so Irina ultimately her goal was to reunite the children with their families
reunite the children with their families
reunite the children with their families and the reason she did it her father was
and the reason she did it her father was
and the reason she did it her father was suffering from typhus he was dying from
suffering from typhus he was dying from
suffering from typhus he was dying from typhus when she was seven years old and
typhus when she was seven years old and
typhus when she was seven years old and she would sit outside of his bedroom and
she would sit outside of his bedroom and
she would sit outside of his bedroom and they would have conversations and he
they would have conversations and he
they would have conversations and he told her if you see someone drowning you
told her if you see someone drowning you
told her if you see someone drowning you have to jump in and save them whether
have to jump in and save them whether
have to jump in and save them whether you can swim or not
you can swim or not
you can swim or not so 1939 arrived and she saw the Jewish
so 1939 arrived and she saw the Jewish
so 1939 arrived and she saw the Jewish religion as a whole drowning and it was
religion as a whole drowning and it was
religion as a whole drowning and it was up to her to jump in and save them
up to her to jump in and save them
up to her to jump in and save them life in a jar took on a life of its own
life in a jar took on a life of its own
life in a jar took on a life of its own we came back our sophomore years in high
we came back our sophomore years in high
we came back our sophomore years in high school and we started a documentary on
school and we started a documentary on
school and we started a documentary on the jazz singer Hugh D Ledbetter we were
the jazz singer Hugh D Ledbetter we were
the jazz singer Hugh D Ledbetter we were proving he was a pioneer on the frontier
proving he was a pioneer on the frontier
proving he was a pioneer on the frontier of American music and we started getting
of American music and we started getting
of American music and we started getting calls to do life-image our performances
calls to do life-image our performances
calls to do life-image our performances we said no we’re busy we’re working on
we said no we’re busy we’re working on
we said no we’re busy we’re working on our documentary finally thankfully we
our documentary finally thankfully we
our documentary finally thankfully we got a phone call and mr. canard said yes
got a phone call and mr. canard said yes
got a phone call and mr. canard said yes for us to perform at a middle school in
for us to perform at a middle school in
for us to perform at a middle school in Kansas City we did four performances
Kansas City we did four performances
Kansas City we did four performances that morning and there happened to be a
that morning and there happened to be a
that morning and there happened to be a Jewish businessman there who decided to
Jewish businessman there who decided to
Jewish businessman there who decided to teach history for one year and he saw
teach history for one year and he saw
teach history for one year and he saw our performance and he took us out to
our performance and he took us out to
our performance and he took us out to lunch and he said what’s the goal with
lunch and he said what’s the goal with
lunch and he said what’s the goal with your project well we’d love to meet
your project well we’d love to meet
your project well we’d love to meet Irina and he said okay what are you
Irina and he said okay what are you
Irina and he said okay what are you doing to make that happen
doing to make that happen
doing to make that happen we’re selling candy bars
and he said okay how much money have you
and he said okay how much money have you raised eighty one dollars and he said
raised eighty one dollars and he said
raised eighty one dollars and he said okay if I raise the money will you go to
okay if I raise the money will you go to
okay if I raise the money will you go to Poland yeah he said okay I’m gonna raise
Poland yeah he said okay I’m gonna raise
Poland yeah he said okay I’m gonna raise the money you’re gonna go to Poland you
the money you’re gonna go to Poland you
the money you’re gonna go to Poland you say you make documentaries you’re gonna
say you make documentaries you’re gonna
say you make documentaries you’re gonna put together a film about your
put together a film about your
put together a film about your experiences and then come to my
experiences and then come to my
experiences and then come to my synagogue on September 12 2001 and share
synagogue on September 12 2001 and share
synagogue on September 12 2001 and share your story
your story
your story okay so we’re making the two-hour drive
okay so we’re making the two-hour drive
okay so we’re making the two-hour drive back South to Uniontown and we’re
back South to Uniontown and we’re
back South to Uniontown and we’re thinking we don’t know this guy he’s not
thinking we don’t know this guy he’s not
thinking we don’t know this guy he’s not gonna call within 24 hours he calls norm
gonna call within 24 hours he calls norm
gonna call within 24 hours he calls norm canards classroom my high school history
canards classroom my high school history
canards classroom my high school history teacher and says I’ve raised the money I
teacher and says I’ve raised the money I
teacher and says I’ve raised the money I found some supporters who believed in
found some supporters who believed in
found some supporters who believed in your project and what you’re doing and
your project and what you’re doing and
your project and what you’re doing and you’re going to Poland okay so I think I
you’re going to Poland okay so I think I
you’re going to Poland okay so I think I immediately I called my mom and
immediately I called my mom and
immediately I called my mom and thankfully my mom was in remission she
thankfully my mom was in remission she
thankfully my mom was in remission she was diagnosed with breast cancer about
was diagnosed with breast cancer about
was diagnosed with breast cancer about two months after the project started in
two months after the project started in
two months after the project started in 1999 so she was able to go to Poland
1999 so she was able to go to Poland
1999 so she was able to go to Poland with us and people say in the last 17
with us and people say in the last 17
with us and people say in the last 17 years what’s your most memorable moment
years what’s your most memorable moment
years what’s your most memorable moment for me that’s easy I remember walking
for me that’s easy I remember walking
for me that’s easy I remember walking into the apartment where we met Irena
into the apartment where we met Irena
into the apartment where we met Irena Sendler for the very first time and we
Sendler for the very first time and we
Sendler for the very first time and we said hello gave hugs lots of Tears
said hello gave hugs lots of Tears
said hello gave hugs lots of Tears emotion and then she was sitting in this
emotion and then she was sitting in this
emotion and then she was sitting in this chair and we were sitting around her
chair and we were sitting around her
chair and we were sitting around her feet and I remember looking to into her
feet and I remember looking to into her
feet and I remember looking to into her eyes the eyes that had looked into so
eyes the eyes that had looked into so
eyes the eyes that had looked into so many parents eyes and children’s eyes
many parents eyes and children’s eyes
many parents eyes and children’s eyes and then looking over my shoulder and
and then looking over my shoulder and
and then looking over my shoulder and seeing my mom sitting there the two most
seeing my mom sitting there the two most
seeing my mom sitting there the two most influential strongest women in my life
influential strongest women in my life
influential strongest women in my life in the same room and they are both now
in the same room and they are both now
in the same room and they are both now my guardian angels so some of the
my guardian angels so some of the
my guardian angels so some of the children that Irina’s saved you see
children that Irina’s saved you see
children that Irina’s saved you see there were not as diamond she’s hugging
there were not as diamond she’s hugging
there were not as diamond she’s hugging my brother my brother was in the
my brother my brother was in the
my brother my brother was in the performance for a while
performance for a while
performance for a while I played the Nazi soldier and I really
I played the Nazi soldier and I really
I played the Nazi soldier and I really didn’t want to anymore so I asked my mom
didn’t want to anymore so I asked my mom
didn’t want to anymore so I asked my mom and my mom was very excited to have my
and my mom was very excited to have my
and my mom was very excited to have my brother involved in the performance but
brother involved in the performance but
brother involved in the performance but my brother also
my brother also
my brother also got the opportunity to play the role of
got the opportunity to play the role of
got the opportunity to play the role of dr. Voss and we actually got to meet him
dr. Voss and we actually got to meet him
dr. Voss and we actually got to meet him he was a rescuer who actually took in
he was a rescuer who actually took in
he was a rescuer who actually took in some of the children that Irina saved so
some of the children that Irina saved so
some of the children that Irina saved so dr. Voss in costume there with Renata
dr. Voss in costume there with Renata
dr. Voss in costume there with Renata Zeidman a Renata was 13 years old living
Zeidman a Renata was 13 years old living
Zeidman a Renata was 13 years old living in the sewers when she was rescued by
in the sewers when she was rescued by
in the sewers when she was rescued by Irena Sendler and while she was alive
Irena Sendler and while she was alive
Irena Sendler and while she was alive she travelled with us with life in a jar
she travelled with us with life in a jar
she travelled with us with life in a jar she spent some time actually here in
she spent some time actually here in
she spent some time actually here in Kansas City with us and then on the left
Kansas City with us and then on the left
Kansas City with us and then on the left there or you’re right we have LG
there or you’re right we have LG
there or you’re right we have LG beautiful Alaska LG betta was five
beautiful Alaska LG betta was five
beautiful Alaska LG betta was five months old when she was placed in a
months old when she was placed in a
months old when she was placed in a carpenter’s box Irina had drove in a
carpenter’s box Irina had drove in a
carpenter’s box Irina had drove in a hygiene truck unloaded all of the items
hygiene truck unloaded all of the items
hygiene truck unloaded all of the items and Elzbieta was placed in the
and Elzbieta was placed in the
and Elzbieta was placed in the floorboard of the truck but her parents
floorboard of the truck but her parents
floorboard of the truck but her parents said wait before you take her out we
said wait before you take her out we
said wait before you take her out we want to put a silver spoon in the box
want to put a silver spoon in the box
want to put a silver spoon in the box with her and her silver spoon had her
with her and her silver spoon had her
with her and her silver spoon had her first name only it was too dangerous to
first name only it was too dangerous to
first name only it was too dangerous to have our last name and her date of birth
have our last name and her date of birth
have our last name and her date of birth January 5th 1942 LGB Ekta her parents
January 5th 1942 LGB Ekta her parents
January 5th 1942 LGB Ekta her parents were killed at Treblinka most of the
were killed at Treblinka most of the
were killed at Treblinka most of the children that Irena saved their parents
children that Irena saved their parents
children that Irena saved their parents their family members their aunts their
their family members their aunts their
their family members their aunts their uncles they were killed at Treblinka so
uncles they were killed at Treblinka so
uncles they were killed at Treblinka so it made reuniting them after the war
it made reuniting them after the war
it made reuniting them after the war very difficult but she continued to
very difficult but she continued to
very difficult but she continued to search the photograph there of Irena
search the photograph there of Irena
search the photograph there of Irena Sendler was taken may 3rd 2008 I
Sendler was taken may 3rd 2008 I
Sendler was taken may 3rd 2008 I actually took that photo that was the
actually took that photo that was the
actually took that photo that was the last time we saw her nine days before
last time we saw her nine days before
last time we saw her nine days before she passed away on May 12th and May 12th
she passed away on May 12th and May 12th
she passed away on May 12th and May 12th has always been an important date to me
has always been an important date to me
has always been an important date to me because that’s my birthday and I’ve
because that’s my birthday and I’ve
because that’s my birthday and I’ve played Irina now in the performance for
played Irina now in the performance for
played Irina now in the performance for about 13 years and after my mom passed
about 13 years and after my mom passed
about 13 years and after my mom passed Irina and I developed a very special
Irina and I developed a very special
Irina and I developed a very special close relationship she was like a
close relationship she was like a
close relationship she was like a surrogate mother I guess you could say
surrogate mother I guess you could say
surrogate mother I guess you could say and we felt that she passed on my
and we felt that she passed on my
and we felt that she passed on my birthday it was very symbolic as if she
birthday it was very symbolic as if she
birthday it was very symbolic as if she was passionate the torch on to us to
was passionate the torch on to us to
was passionate the torch on to us to keep her light burning
keep her light burning
keep her light burning so the impact I’ve made five trips to
so the impact I’ve made five trips to
so the impact I’ve made five trips to Poland now to meet Irina spend time with
Poland now to meet Irina spend time with
Poland now to meet Irina spend time with her conduct interviews actually perform
her conduct interviews actually perform
her conduct interviews actually perform in Poland and we’ve done 383
in Poland and we’ve done 383
in Poland and we’ve done 383 performances now we’re booking for 2018
performances now we’re booking for 2018
performances now we’re booking for 2018 all over the United States
all over the United States
all over the United States Canada and Poland our website has had
Canada and Poland our website has had
Canada and Poland our website has had almost 60 million hits and we have the
almost 60 million hits and we have the
almost 60 million hits and we have the Irena Sendler award and Poland which is
Irena Sendler award and Poland which is
Irena Sendler award and Poland which is the top teaching education award in
the top teaching education award in
the top teaching education award in Poland it’s given out to the teacher who
Poland it’s given out to the teacher who
Poland it’s given out to the teacher who best teaches Holocaust education and the
best teaches Holocaust education and the
best teaches Holocaust education and the true spirit of Irena Sendler and it’s
true spirit of Irena Sendler and it’s
true spirit of Irena Sendler and it’s given out at the presidential palace our
given out at the presidential palace our
given out at the presidential palace our goal has always been to make her story
goal has always been to make her story
goal has always been to make her story known to the world and we were able to
known to the world and we were able to
known to the world and we were able to do that with the performance but also
do that with the performance but also
do that with the performance but also with our book and with the Hallmark Hall
with our book and with the Hallmark Hall
with our book and with the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie the courageous heart of
of Fame movie the courageous heart of
of Fame movie the courageous heart of Irena Sendler this school project as you
Irena Sendler this school project as you
Irena Sendler this school project as you can see changed my life but it also
can see changed my life but it also
can see changed my life but it also changed my goal and my dreams I started
changed my goal and my dreams I started
changed my goal and my dreams I started college to be a pharmacist and after
college to be a pharmacist and after
college to be a pharmacist and after three semesters I realized that wasn’t
three semesters I realized that wasn’t
three semesters I realized that wasn’t my dream I couldn’t make a difference
my dream I couldn’t make a difference
my dream I couldn’t make a difference being a pharmacist I mean I could but
being a pharmacist I mean I could but
being a pharmacist I mean I could but really not the kind of change that I
really not the kind of change that I
really not the kind of change that I wanted to make so my high school history
wanted to make so my high school history
wanted to make so my high school history teacher his dream of using unsung heroes
teacher his dream of using unsung heroes
teacher his dream of using unsung heroes of role models to teach respect and
of role models to teach respect and
of role models to teach respect and understanding to young people became my
understanding to young people became my
understanding to young people became my dream and with the help of mr. Lowell
dream and with the help of mr. Lowell
dream and with the help of mr. Lowell Milken we were able to found the low
Milken we were able to found the low
Milken we were able to found the low Milken Center in 2007 in Fort Scott
Milken Center in 2007 in Fort Scott
Milken Center in 2007 in Fort Scott Kansas and we do just that we work with
Kansas and we do just that we work with
Kansas and we do just that we work with teachers and students around the world
teachers and students around the world
teachers and students around the world helping them find unsung heroes role
helping them find unsung heroes role
helping them find unsung heroes role models stories do in-depth research
models stories do in-depth research
models stories do in-depth research conduct oral history interviews find
conduct oral history interviews find
conduct oral history interviews find their unsung heroes sometimes if they’re
their unsung heroes sometimes if they’re
their unsung heroes sometimes if they’re still alive and put together
still alive and put together
still alive and put together performances documentaries exhibits
performances documentaries exhibits
performances documentaries exhibits websites however they choose to share
websites however they choose to share
websites however they choose to share their research and information what is
their research and information what is
their research and information what is an unsung hero we have a little bit of a
an unsung hero we have a little bit of a
an unsung hero we have a little bit of a different definition we want our
different definition we want our
different definition we want our students to do in-depth thinking
students to do in-depth thinking
students to do in-depth thinking collaborative research and really dig in
collaborative research and really dig in
collaborative research and really dig in to have ownership and light a fire in
to have ownership and light a fire in
to have ownership and light a fire in them and it also creates a love for
them and it also creates a love for
them and it also creates a love for history and a deeper understanding
history and a deeper understanding
history and a deeper understanding so our unsung heroes have created a
so our unsung heroes have created a
so our unsung heroes have created a positive and profound impact and change
positive and profound impact and change
positive and profound impact and change over time and one of our very positive
over time and one of our very positive
over time and one of our very positive unsung key
unsung key
unsung key that students have found is Adam
that students have found is Adam
that students have found is Adam shoemaker he was a teacher preacher
shoemaker he was a teacher preacher
shoemaker he was a teacher preacher Intel City Indiana and the Lincoln
Intel City Indiana and the Lincoln
Intel City Indiana and the Lincoln family moved into his parish and the
family moved into his parish and the
family moved into his parish and the young boy needed a job so he gave the
young boy needed a job so he gave the
young boy needed a job so he gave the young boy Abraham a job cleaning his
young boy Abraham a job cleaning his
young boy Abraham a job cleaning his church and cleaning his school and this
church and cleaning his school and this
church and cleaning his school and this young boy after the sermons on Sunday he
young boy after the sermons on Sunday he
young boy after the sermons on Sunday he would go stand on his stump in his yard
would go stand on his stump in his yard
would go stand on his stump in his yard and preach and on his way to his
and preach and on his way to his
and preach and on his way to his presidential inauguration Abraham
presidential inauguration Abraham
presidential inauguration Abraham Lincoln stopped the train until City and
Lincoln stopped the train until City and
Lincoln stopped the train until City and said to the shoemaker family Adam Adam
said to the shoemaker family Adam Adam
said to the shoemaker family Adam Adam is the one who started me on my road to
is the one who started me on my road to
is the one who started me on my road to opposing slavery and these are the type
opposing slavery and these are the type
opposing slavery and these are the type of unsung heroes that our young people
of unsung heroes that our young people
of unsung heroes that our young people are researching and being inspired by
are researching and being inspired by
are researching and being inspired by one person can make a difference I truly
one person can make a difference I truly
one person can make a difference I truly believe that I live that everyday and I
believe that I live that everyday and I
believe that I live that everyday and I think we all have the responsibility to
think we all have the responsibility to
think we all have the responsibility to step up to make a difference change the
step up to make a difference change the
step up to make a difference change the world around us and make it a better
world around us and make it a better
world around us and make it a better place thank you
”
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