Entries by dickbernard

#989 – Dick Bernard: Uncle Vince

A few hours ago the phone rang here at home. The call was from St. Rose Nursing Home in Lamoure, ND. The message very simple: my Uncle Vincent died a few minutes earlier, at 7:15 p.m., CST, February 2, 2015. Thence began the task shared by thousands of others yesterday: passing the word. There is […]

#988 – Dick Bernard: Groundhog Day: Crepes, la Chandeleur, les Marmottes. Some variations on a general theme….

Today, at least in the U.S., the latest generation of the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil out in Pennsylvania is rudely awaken from his winters nap to predict the rest of winter. Some years ago, my Dad shared a ca 1920 story about my grandfather and a pretender to Phil in Grafton ND. A previous post tells […]

#987 – Dick Bernard: Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Day after Yesterday

Last night I went to an outstanding program commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This was a one-night program. The program booklet can be seen here: Auschwitz- Apollo 1-2015001. As the program booklet notes (p. 2) Dr. Sean Vogt, Director of the wonderful Apollo Male Chorus, was moved and inspired by a […]

#986 – Dick Bernard: Learning on a Beautiful Spring Day at Auschwitz-Birkenau

PRE-NOTES: 1. Auschwitz-Birkenau, air photo and description: Auschwitz-Birkenau001 2. Recollections of a GI who visits Dachau shortly after liberation in 1945 are at the end of this post. (click on photos to enlarge them) January 27, 2015, marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp near Oswiecim, Poland. This day, 70 years […]