Greencastle-Antrim students learn and give at Holocaust Museum

Martina Fegan’s Human Rights Literature classes set out from Greencastle-Antrim High School on the morning on Nov. 14, bound for Washington D.C. to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Accompanying them was veteran Vern Baker, who was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army and a liberator at Dachau during World War II, and Sylvia Bonebrake, who survived the Holocaust in the Jewish east end of London during the Blitz.

The purpose of the trip was not only to better educate the Human Rights students about the Holocaust, but to present The Glorious and the Brave book, DVD, educator’s guide and a check for $1,000 from the proceeds of book to the museum. The book, DVD and educator’s guide were presented by senior Aubree Poole, who was a contributor for the book. The check was presented by senior Joshua Butcher, who was one of the narrators for the film.

Holocaust and Stutthof survivor Nesse Godin spoke about her experiences in the ghettos and concentration camps. “Yelling ‘never again’ is not enough,” she said. “When you see a wrong, you have to act.”

Baker and Bonebrake were both honored to meet another World War II survivor and they were both appreciative of Fegan’s donation to the museum.

“This is my sixth trip to the museum,” said Bonebrake. “It’s really hard for me but those things must never be forgotten. All you have to do is love everybody else. That’s all you have to do. And it’s not really that hard of a thing to do.”

Baker was equally passionate about the museum. “It’s really wonderful that all you kids come out to the museum,” he said. “It’s amazing how many young people were there. The book and DVD will have a positive impact on the museum and help others learn. The DVD is really great. The kids did a wonderful job getting all the information.”