Danish rescue boat tells heroic
tale at Holocaust Museum
Special to the Monitor
HOUSTON–The Holocaust Museum Houston will host its one
millionth visitor this month with the installation of a rare
A Danish rescue boat will tell the heroic story of a three-week period
in 1943 when Christians in Denmark risked their lives to save more than
7,200 Jews from almost certain execution at the hands of Nazi Germany.
The authentic fishing boat of the type used to ferry Jews and 700 others
from small towns along the Danish coast to safety in Sweden under cover
of darkness has been located and donated to the museum.
It arrived Oct. 31 and is part of a permanent exhibition “Bearing
Witness: A Community Remembers.”
Formal dedication ceremonies are set for 3 p.m. Sunday (today) at 5401
Caroline St. in Houston’s Museum District.
Admission to the Museum is always free.
The boat is being placed next to the Museum’s Holocaust-era railcar,
also built in 1942, to help the Museum teach visitors the continuing
importance of each individual’s responsibility to act when confronted
“Our railcar and other artifacts tell the stories of incredible evil
committed by ordinary people against their very own neighbors, museum
chair Walter Hecht said.
“They remind us of the horrible injustices that occurred while much of
the world stood idly by and did nothing.”
“Only by being confronted with this kind of evidence of the past, and
only by reminding future generations of their responsibility to prevent
it, can we ensure that such atrocities are never allowed to happen
again, to any group of people, anywhere in the world,” Hecht said.
The boat, built in 1942 in Denmark and carrying the signal letters XP
2853 was once named the “Jorn Finne” but was officially renamed the
“Hanne Frank” or Anne Frank in English, in 1985.
The 37.1-foot long 13.9 foot wide and 5.7-foot deep boat was located,
documented and acquired after an extensive effort spanning several
Museum personnel were searching for it since 2001, but were told all
such boats had fallen into disrepair and were no longer traceable or had
The Denmark Consul General in Houston was contacted, however the search
However, in 2006 while visiting Denmark on vacation, museum executive
director Susan Myers located a boat broker in the small town of
Gilleleje who said he knew of such a boat.
The largest boat brokerage in Denmark, Norway and Sweden – N.B.
Ferdinandsen & Sonner – then promised not only to locate the boat, but
to arrange for its refurbishment to its original 1942 condition and then
to donate it to the Museum in memory of a father and father-in-law, who
were both honored by the Yad Vashem museum in Israel for their own part
in the Danish boat rescue of Jews in 1943.
Jan Ferdinandsen is expected to attend the boat’s formal dedication, as
is current Danish Ambassador to the United States Friis Arne Peterson
and former ambassador Ole Philipson, who himself survived the Nazis when
other Danes helped the then 6-year-old Philipson flee to Sweden in the
fish hold of a boat similar to the one donated to the Houston museum.
The ordeal began in the first few days of October 1943 when the Germans
began a nationwide action to round up all Danish Jews for deportation to
the concentration camps. Six percent of Danish Jews were captured, but
Denmark’s citizens revolted and helped 7,200 make it safely to Sweden
along with 700 non-Jewish relatives.
Gilleleje’s own 500 households cared for hundreds of refugees hiding
them in the local church attic before ferrying them across to Hoganas in
Sweden. The church eventually was stormed by the Nazis.
The Houston exhibit was made possible by generous support.
Once officially installed at the Museum, Jan. 20, 2008, the boat exhibit
will be open for public viewing free of charge. Viewing hours are 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For more information about the Holocaust Museum Houston or this exhibit,
call (713) 942-8000 or visit www.hmh.org.
Stroke and Osteoporosis
screening coming to Mabank
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–Residents living in or around the Mabank community can be
screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or serious bone
Life Line Screening will be at Tri-County Library beginning at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 23.
The site is located at 132 E. Market St. in downtown Mabank.
Appointments will begin at 9 a.m.
A stroke, also known as a “brain attack,” is ranked as the third leading
killer in the world, and the leading cause of nursing home admissions.
Stroke often occurs without warning. The good news is that painless
screening can help identify problems that lead to stroke before it is
Screenings are fast, painless and low cost. They test for blocked
carotid arteries, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the
arteries in the legs.
Bone density screening is also offered to assess the risk of
These screenings are important because of the silent and often
debilitating nature of the conditions.
The majority of strokes are caused by plaque buildup in the carotid
The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the body and a weakness in
the walls of the artery can cause a ballooning called an aneurysm, which
A ruptured anuerysm is generally fatal. Peripheral arterial disease, or
PAD, is also known as “hardening of the arteries.”
Sufferers have a four-to six-fold increased risk of cardiovascular
Risk is evaluated through a measurement called the “Ankle-Brachial
Index,” which is obtained by reading the systolic pressure in the ankle
Register for a Complete Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm at $149. All
five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.
Life Line Screening was established in 1993, and has since become the
nation’s leading provider of vascular screenings.
More than 85 ultrasound teams are on staff to travel to local
communities, bringing the screenings to residents.
These non-invasive, inexpensive and painless, ultrasound tests help
people identify their risk for stroke, vascular diseases or osteoporosis
early enough for their physician to begin preventive procedures.
For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an
appointment, call toll-free (877)-237-1287, or visit us on the web at
Pre-registration is required.
Celebrity benefit set for
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–A Texas celebrity and author will visit the Tri-County Library,
in a benefit program and book-signing event from 10 a.m. to noon,
Saturday, Feb. 16.
Annie Golightly’s entertainment career spans 36 years and includes a
1992 performance in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Over her long career she got to perform with such greats as Rosemary
Clooney, Tom T. Hall, Rex Allen, Ace Reid and Arthur Duncan.
She has also played for such notables as former Texas Gov. John and
Nellie Connally, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Chuck Connors, Nelson
Rockefeller and four presidents, including presidents from Argentina and
Annie Golightly, a.k.a. Ann Milford Smith,
born on a cotton farm in Fannin County, will speak about her many
adventures and her newest book “Dreams And A White Horse” at a
Tri-County Library benefit to be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday,
Feb. 16, at the library.
Golightly is a nominee for the Cowgirl Hall of Fame
Museum, and has published several books, including “Down A Cotton Row”
and “Dreams and a White Horse.”
The latter is a story of a 20th century cattle drive over and through
the asphalt jungle, about 1,800 miles across six states, to fulfill a
lifelong dream of riding a white horse to the Northwest – a story of
self discovery apart from the trappings of civilization.
In 1995, she was asked to perform at several rodeos for some cowboys
going on a cattle drive. They didn’t intend for her to travel with them,
but she bugged them so much, they finally let her come. She was the only
woman on the six-month trek.
“There’s no better way to see the country than between a horse’s ears,”
The Tyler Morning Telegraph quoted her.
Golightly is a friend of lake area residents Jean Robinson and Terry and
Visit with Golightly and hear of her many adventures.
“She is a very unique individual,” librarian Claire Stout said.
Tickets are on sale for $10 at Hydrangea House or the library, 132 E.
Market St. in Mabank. Light refreshments will be served.
Call (903) 887-9622 for further information.
The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake
My name is Dixie. I am a
beautiful female Bassett Hound. I was brought to the Shelter by
animal control so I have no history. I have been fixed and my
stomach is tatooed, but my owner hasn’t called about me. I am a
wonderful girl in need of a home.
My name is Honey. I am a
beautiful mix breed small female. I was brought to the Shelter
by someone who rescued me and my seven pups after I was rolled
by a car. I broke my pelvic bone, but I am now better. I do
sometimes seem to favor walking on my front two legs. I have not
had the greatest life, but look forward to having a family to
care for me. I seem to get along well with older dogs, but not
puppies. I am a bit shy, but once I get to know you I am a good
girl. I am looking for a new home.
My name is Cotton. I am a
beautiful male kitten. I was brought to the Shelter and was so
small I had to be bottle fed by a wonderful foster mommy. I am
around 12 weeks old and have been started on my first shots and
wormed. I am very playful and very affectionate kitten. I am
such a good kid deserving of a wonderful family.
My name is Katie. I am a
beautiful female Yellow Lab. I was brought to the Shelter by
animal control. So far I seem to be very sweet. I am looking for
a good home.
My name is Sox. I am a beautiful male orange and
white cat. I am a very affectionate boy, I seem to get along
well with others. I am a very good boy in need of a forever
My name is Wyndell. I am a beautiful male gray
Tabby mix. I was brought to the shelter by animal control, so I
have no history. After a while, I seem to get along with others.
I am a good boy looking for a good home.
My name is Zsa-Zsa. I am a beautiful 3-4 year old
female Terrier mix. I was brought to the Shelter by animal
control, so I have no history. Something has happened to my left
eye at some point in my life. So far I seem to be very sweet and
seem to get along with others. I am a beautiful girl looking for
a new home.
My name is Baxter. I am a beautiful male Terrier
mix. I was wandering the streets and picked up by animal
control. I walk on a leash, seem to be house broken and love to
ride in a car. I am a wonderful young man looking for a new
Pictured are just a few
animals at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven
Points in dire need of a good home. Please call or stop by the
Humane Society today and rescue one of these forgotten animals.
The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on 10220
County Road 2403 in
Seven Points. For more information, please call (903) 432-3422
after 11 a.m.
We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
For further information
visit our website at