Honorary Consul Jon Rosenthal Donates Books to Holocaust Center in Florida
On May 5, 2011, in honor of the 66th anniversary of Denmark's liberation from the Nazi's occupation, Deputy Chief of Mission Anne Mette Vestergaard and Honorary Consul Jon Rosenthal visited the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Hollywood, Florida.
Deputy Chief of Mission Anne Mette Vestergaard receives a book from the Holocaust Documentation Center.
Donating Books about World War II in a Danish Context
On May 5, 2011, in honor of the 66th anniversary of Denmark's liberation from the Nazi's occupation, Deputy Chief of Mission Anne Mette Vestergaard and Honorary Consul Jon Rosenthal presented a program titled "A Celebration of Courage: Denmark 1940-45" at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Hollywood, Florida.
At the event Honorary Consul Rosenthal presented the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center with a donation of books, relating to World War II, including such topics as the Danish resistance to Nazi occupiers and the rescue of Denmark's Jewish population.
"The idea for this event came when I was invited to attend the dedication of the library here at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center. I noticed that there were bookshelves with labels bearing the names of various countries, and on them were books in those countries' native languages relating to the World War II experience there. I noticed that Denmark was, to me, conspicuously absent, and I thought I might do something to change that"
"I have been able to gather several books and other materials about the Holocaust in Denmark; some in English, like the famous book Number the Stars, and some in Danish. These books describe many different things: the heroic Danish underground resistance, the rescue of Denmark's Jews by secretly sending nearly all of them to neighbouring Sweden", Jon Rosenthal said in his speech.
The Rescue of Danish Jews and the Role of USA
In her keynote Anne Mette Vestergaard talked about the rescue of Denmark's Jews in October 1943. Vestergaard also stressed the close ties between Denmark and the United States:
"Denmark will never forget the essential contribution of the United States in defense of European democracies in two world wars and the Cold War. Nor shall we forget the generosity of the United States when it came to the staggering task of rebuilding a ruined Europe", Vestergaard said.
The presentation was attended by members of the City Commission, representatives of local members of the United States Congress, local dignitaries, members of the South Florida Danish community, and others.
Special guests who shared their personal stories included Danes now living in South Florida that lived through the occupation and liberation of Denmark.
