The Tale of an Upstander

Image courtesy of BBC.com

Sir Nicholas Winton, who recently passed away at the age of 106, should serve as an inspiration to anyone who dares to stand up for what they believe, and risk everything in the name of justice. Working almost alone, Sir Winton saved over 600 Czech children during World War II, and guided them to safety in England. Today, they and their descendants number over 6,000.

A young successful stockbroker in 1938, he was convinced to travel to Prague  to help rescue children from certain death at the hands of the Nazi’s. Persuading British customs officials and foster parents to take in the saved children, he kept his brave act a secret for over half a century. He did not require the recognition from others as a reward for staying true to his internal moral convictions.

It is individuals like Sir Nicholas that inspire me to write about the courageous group of immigrant Holocaust survivors that my mother and I joined soon after arriving in America from a German displaced persons camp. Springfield, Massachusetts became our home after the horrors of war. Now, after writing Sidonia’s Thread, about growing up with my single mother and Holocaust survivor, I am completing my next story about the evolution of this survivor group from their entrance to America to the point at which each of them made their way in a new country through their resilience, courage, and persistent will. Like Sir Nicholas Winton, in their own way, they made a significant impact on their children, friends, and community.

I hope to keep you all informed as my new book winds its way to publication.