Letter to the Editor: Remembering survivors

The dwindling number of survivors of the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, have met this week in Warsaw, Poland and around the world commemorating the 69th anniversary of its liberation by the Russian army. 

Sidney’s lone Polish survivor, Benny Hochman, who passed away this last year, was liberated by a US Army Signal Corp. battalion on the same date from the death camp at Buchanwald. 

Benny survived the winter march from Auschwitz to Buchenwald but many of the others did not. Benny was near death when rescued but was nursed back to health by the army and was a non-documented corporal for many months as an interpreter before being sponsored to come to the USA by a schoolman from Lebanon, Nebraska and he spent his last 50 plus years in our city as an outstanding citizen. 

Benny courageously told his story to schools, colleges, veteran’s events and civic gatherings all across the western United States as long as his health permitted. Benny’s legacy lives on in his biography entitled “From Hell to Here.”

We must not forget what murderous deeds are being and have been committed by Tyrannical Governments. 

C.J. Cornelius

Sidney