Righteous unto the nations

More documents

Recommendations

Info

How does the family feel about the ceremony? Ingrid Falk-Van Schalm (granddaughter of Jan and Dinnie van Zutphen) “Soms in de geschiedenis leeft er op aarde een geweldig mens, een held. Mijn grootvader, Jan A. van Zutphen was zo’n uniek persoon gedurende zijn hele leven. Zijn motto was “de sterken voor de zwakken”. Hij streed voor de noodlijdende mens; niet alleen als oprichter van Zonnestraal, een sanatorium gespecialiseerd in tuberculose-bestrijding, maar ook in de oorlog toen hij zijn Joodse vrienden liet onderduiken in zijn eigen huis, met de hulp van zijn moedige vrouw, Bernardina-Johanna Van Zutphen-Greger. Mede door hun heldenmoed konden zes mensen van de Familie Deen gered worden en de oorlog overleven. Mijn familie is trots op mijn grootvader en grootmoeder en we zijn dankbaar dat ze op 10 december 2013 geëerd zullen worden.” “Sometimes in the history of mankind lives a great man, a hero. My grandfather, Jan A. van Zutphen was such a unique person throughout his life. His motto was “the strong for the weak.” He fought for the needy, not only as the founder of Zonnestraal, a sanatorium specializing in tuberculosis control, but also in the war when he hid his Jewish friend in his own home with the help of his brave wife, Bernardina-Johanna Van Zutphen-Greger. Through his heroism six members of the Family Deen were saved and lived to survive the war. My family is very proud of my grandfather and grandmother and are grateful that they will be “Honoured” on December 10, 2013.” PAGE 20 Jan van Zutphen’s motto at the entrance to Zonnestraal, Loosdrecht “ De Sterken voor de Zwakken” which is interpreted to mean “the strong (humanitarian, materially, or spiritually) in society caring and protecting those who are weak, vulnerable or less fortunate”. ©2013 Edited and compiled by Martin Moen, Perth, Western Australia.
Erica Moen-Deen’s Story Extract of Oral History by Erica Moen-Deen recorded in 1996 by Louise Hoffman et al. “In May 1940 the Germans invaded Holland and I was then fifteen and a half years old. For about a year there were no radical changes in our lives. Gradually and slowly the pressure began to come. We had to register and to have a “J” on our identity cards. A little later we all had to wear the yellow star on our outer clothing to separate and distinguish us from other people. When I was seventeen, the Germans came to the high school and the officer in charge said “All Jews out”. I was the only member of my family in high school at the time and I can still remember the fear I felt on that day. (One sister had left school, my older brother was studying engineering at university and another sister had left school and was doing a mother craft course. My younger brother and sister were still at primary school in the village.) During 1942 the restrictions began in earnest. Our bicycles and radios were confiscated, we were forbidden to talk with neighbours and we could not mix with other people. I could not go anywhere so I stayed at home and taught my younger brother and sister, for now no Jews were allowed in school. I became increasingly afraid. known him since the age of 15. He was one of the first to be captured and wrote to me from Camp Westerbork. (Records shows he was born Amsterdam on 19 November 1923 and died somewhere in Middle-Europe on 31 March 1944). His occupation was an Office clerk. He reached the age of 20. His father was Jacobus de Leeuw, born in Amsterdam, 9 August 1897 and also died Middle-Europe on the same day the 31 March 1944. He was a meat wholesale dealer and reached the age of 46. Towards the end of 1942, the four eldest children in our family received letters from the German authorities, to say that we had to report to Westerbork. We were still unaware of what was happening to the Jews in Europe and my father was a very open and trusting man, he felt that “nothing would happen to us, for we had done nothing wrong”. How wrong he was. In Loosdrecht there was a youth hostel, which prepared Jewish youth to go to Palestine. Many of the young people there had been sent from Germany and Austria for safety and training. When the restrictions began, their chances for a new life disappeared. I had a boyfriend who lived in Hilversum and his name was David de Leeuw. I had Erica Moen-Deen taken 12 June 1942 PAGE 21 ©2013 Edited and compiled by Martin Moen, Perth, Western Australia.
Page 1 and 2: Righteous unto the Nations Yad Vash
Page 3 and 4: “Whosoever saves a single life: s
Page 5 and 6: Message from Martin Moen In 1940 th
Page 7 and 8: Yad Vashem and “Righteous Among t
Page 9 and 10: OUR “Righteous Among the Nations
Page 11 and 12: Minister Piet Visser and Stien Viss
Page 13 and 14: How does the keers family feel abou
Page 15 and 16: The Grootemarsink Family Hendrik an
Page 17 and 18: The following was provided as furth
Page 19: Jan Van Zutphen’s family and frie
Page 23 and 24: are places in this province. The ho
Page 25 and 26: My first thoughts then were for my
Page 27 and 28: Remembering Harold and Rebecca Deen
Page 29 and 30: Limestone War Memorial PAGE 29 ©20
Page 31 and 32: ©2013 Edited and compiled by Marti
Page 33 and 34: ©2013 Edited and compiled by Marti
Page 35: Last, but not least, I acknowledge

Righteous unto the nations

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?