Meghan Hoyer's 8th Grade Class
St. Philomena's Catholic School
Des Moines, Washington
St. Philomena's Catholic School
Des Moines, Washington
Dear Marie-Anne,
I want you to know that while I'd heard your family's history in bits and pieces, you did a marvelous job of presenting it in an hour's time today at Inglemoor High School to French IV students of Gary de Gorgue and other students.
I want you to know that I could not have done such a fine job of putting the story together. I salute you and the Seattle Holocaust Center for the training they give speakers to make the stories accurate and within a comprehensible context. You really were very complete today. You reflected the division of France, the danger of neighbors betraying neighbors, the terrible conditions of Drancy, the wagons that took so many human beings from Drancy off to their deaths in Auschwitz.
I liked your tracing the source of courage in the presentation. It made sense!
Thanks for doing what you are doing, Marie-Anne.
Susan Redd
Burlington
Students from Seattle Central College send their thanks sample messages:
"We need people like you to bring up the stories of the Holocaust to future generations." Eric B.
"This class [Holocaust--Memory and Meaning] has been very overwhelming to me, but it helped when you came to talk to us by hearing about your grandma's and mom's bravery..." Mai K.
"I believe you are doing an extraordinary thing by teaching this generation about your family's survival. It is very bold of you to talk about such a sensitive topic. It was an honor that I got the chance to hear from a person with so much strength." Amanjot B.
"I believe your work is extremely valuable." Kevin H.
"...I will carry what you said with me beyond just this day or class." Samantha J.
"We need people like you to bring up the stories of the Holocaust to future generations." Eric B.
"This class [Holocaust--Memory and Meaning] has been very overwhelming to me, but it helped when you came to talk to us by hearing about your grandma's and mom's bravery..." Mai K.
"I believe you are doing an extraordinary thing by teaching this generation about your family's survival. It is very bold of you to talk about such a sensitive topic. It was an honor that I got the chance to hear from a person with so much strength." Amanjot B.
"I believe your work is extremely valuable." Kevin H.
"...I will carry what you said with me beyond just this day or class." Samantha J.
Nick Coddington from Charles Wright Academy Tacoma, WA
Thank you for inviting fellow educators to contact me in reference to your talk. My teens were very moved by your words. They are still talking about your visit. On a larger scale, it enabled them to see part of the Holocaust that is often overlooked: rescuers and the choices every person had. We spent two class periods linking your talk to how they act today and how their choices have meaning.
I look forward to your return visit next year.
Sincerely,
Nick Coddington
Upper School History Department
Charles Wright Academy
7723 Chambers Creek Road West
University Place, WA 98467
(253) 620-8354
Dear Marie-Anne Harkness,
Thank you for everything. Your story touches me, and encourages me take action when needed. My grandparents were Jewish. They escaped right before the persecution. Your story reminds me of them. Thank you once again for keeping your story alive. The way your grandmother stood strong against the ever-watching Gestapo was courageous. Let this story never be forgotten.
Love, Teddy
Thank you for everything. Your story touches me, and encourages me take action when needed. My grandparents were Jewish. They escaped right before the persecution. Your story reminds me of them. Thank you once again for keeping your story alive. The way your grandmother stood strong against the ever-watching Gestapo was courageous. Let this story never be forgotten.
Love, Teddy
Dear Ms. Harkness,
Thank you for coming to my school and speaking about your grandmother. It truly helped me understand about the holocaust a little more and the story really hit deep down for me. Your grandmother's story really was something that needed to be shared. She was such a great woman for helping people in need and it has pushed me to do better in my life and help people more. I will remember the speech you gave for the rest of my life. Again thank you for your speach and I'm glad you come to Charles Wright Academy.
Yours truly,
Rahsaan
Thank you for coming to my school and speaking about your grandmother. It truly helped me understand about the holocaust a little more and the story really hit deep down for me. Your grandmother's story really was something that needed to be shared. She was such a great woman for helping people in need and it has pushed me to do better in my life and help people more. I will remember the speech you gave for the rest of my life. Again thank you for your speach and I'm glad you come to Charles Wright Academy.
Yours truly,
Rahsaan
Dear Marie Ann Harkness,
Thank you for coming in and talking to us about your story. I was immediately intrigued when you started telling us about it in French class, and was lucky enough to get to hear it again a second time in history class. I'm glad you could teach us all that we all have the power to do something when people are in need. Even when the most horrible things happen to the most innocent of people, most people just sit on the side and watch. Your mother and grandmother's story will remain an inspiration in our minds, and I hope that you continue telling their tale to help inspire others of our generation. Thank you for telling your story, and giving us all the drive to do something during a future time of need. Your story will be remembered.
-Sid
Thank you for coming in and talking to us about your story. I was immediately intrigued when you started telling us about it in French class, and was lucky enough to get to hear it again a second time in history class. I'm glad you could teach us all that we all have the power to do something when people are in need. Even when the most horrible things happen to the most innocent of people, most people just sit on the side and watch. Your mother and grandmother's story will remain an inspiration in our minds, and I hope that you continue telling their tale to help inspire others of our generation. Thank you for telling your story, and giving us all the drive to do something during a future time of need. Your story will be remembered.
-Sid
Jamie Merriman-Cohen I recently saw Marie-Anne Harkness speak to the 8th grade class at Seattle Hebrew Academy, and she was amazing. I learned so much from her presentation. Thank you, Marie-Anne, for sharing your stories!
Aimee Hickman's 9th graders at Kalles Junior High School in Puyallup, WA
Sincerely, Emily an intrigued listener
From another student at Cougar Middle School in the Bethel School District
Dear Marie-Anne,
I loved your presentation! It's probably really hard for you to go to all these different schools and tell that story. I'd just like to say thank you for coming. Your story made me feel safer [knowing] that there are people out there that will go out of their way to save so many people. It really touched my heart. When I think about your story I remember that question you asked in the beginning, about how was your grandma so strong? Now I start to think [about] that every once in a while.
Your story made me want to be a better person. I would like to be a role model kind of like your grandmother, mom and also yourself. You have made me look at the world as a better place knowing theres people strong enough to help people.
Sincerely, Samantha
I loved your presentation! It's probably really hard for you to go to all these different schools and tell that story. I'd just like to say thank you for coming. Your story made me feel safer [knowing] that there are people out there that will go out of their way to save so many people. It really touched my heart. When I think about your story I remember that question you asked in the beginning, about how was your grandma so strong? Now I start to think [about] that every once in a while.
Your story made me want to be a better person. I would like to be a role model kind of like your grandmother, mom and also yourself. You have made me look at the world as a better place knowing theres people strong enough to help people.
Sincerely, Samantha
From the French Classes at Arlington High School
from Hidden River Middle School
Vive La Resistance
Thank you very much for your presentation. I learned a lot about the strong and noble women in your family- I know for sure that it touched my heart and I will now look up to them for strength. Votre histoire no sera pas oubliee. - Ano
Dear Mrs. Harkness,
Thank you so much for presenting to our class. I loved your presentation and also thank you very much for the paper that had the letter your grandmother received. It has inspired me to write my own book on the Holocaust. I also was able to read some of the letter that was written in French because I am learning to speak French ! J Thank you again, loved the presentation. Kylie
Vive La Resistance
Thank you very much for your presentation. I learned a lot about the strong and noble women in your family- I know for sure that it touched my heart and I will now look up to them for strength. Votre histoire no sera pas oubliee. - Ano
Dear Mrs. Harkness,
Thank you so much for presenting to our class. I loved your presentation and also thank you very much for the paper that had the letter your grandmother received. It has inspired me to write my own book on the Holocaust. I also was able to read some of the letter that was written in French because I am learning to speak French ! J Thank you again, loved the presentation. Kylie
Heroes: Rescuers and Rescued Quilt, a gift from 9th grade students Bree, Sarah and Heather at Kalles Junior High School Ms. Lisa Kreiger's Language Arts Class and Ms. Jeanna Kooser's Social Studies Class.