State Capitol Recognizes Holocaust Memorial Week
(SACRAMENTO, CA) Yesterday, State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia recognized Coachella Valley resident, Barbara Stenning as the 56th Assembly District’s 2018 Holocaust Survivor Honoree. Stenning is a child of a survivor from a family destroyed and displaced during World War II. Her mother, Marianne Elizabeth Humphrey, grandparents, Carl and Rosel Hirsch, aunt, Ursula Hirsch Cahn, were all survivors and refugees of the Holocaust in Germany.
In observation of Holocaust Memorial Week, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus hosted an annual Holocaust Remembrance Celebration at the State Capitol. During the ceremony, Barbara Stenning joined other survivors, families of survivors and liberators from across the state.
“In the midst of the last generation of Holocaust survivors, it is paramount that we do all possible to preserve and share these stories so that the world will never forget this harrowing chapter of history. By ensuring that these voices and experiences live on, we can help instill greater tolerance, acceptance, and respect within future generations,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.
Stenning’s grandfather, Carl Hirsch owned a factory in Eberfeld, Germany when the Nazis came into power. During that period, her mother, aunt, and other Jewish children were unable to continue attending school. The Nazis soon took possession of her grandfather’s factory. Her grandparents and aunt worked hard to secure passage to the United States but unfortunately, her great-grandmother and several other family members were taken to the concentration camps and killed. Before being executed, they were able to send letters to their relatives in America. Her mother, Marianne was able to make her way with a group of young German Jewish teenagers, safely out of Germany to Palestine.
“This is a tribute to my family who were both strong and resilient under extremely difficult conditions during a time when the Nazis occupied Germany. I am proud to be part of an amazing history and to carry on the legacy of my amazing Mother,” shared Barbara Stenning.
“After my Mom passed away, I inherited all of the memorabilia of their past. I felt compelled to pass all of it on so that others could learn from the documents, letters, and experiences of those who were lost. I have donated the original letters written and reflecting that time to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles. The letters reflect the terror, uncertainty, and pain that our family members endured in the camps during that period. They are very difficult and heartbreaking to read. Thank you for the opportunity to share a small segment of our family’s story. It needs to be told.”
