Category Archives: *All

December 7, 2012 — The day that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, 71 years ago

2012_12_07_PerlHarbor-1941-12-07

Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, (and Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

In school you will learn about different events in history — we already discussed some of them: September 11, 2001 — the day that the World Trade Center Towers fell; November 11, 1918 – the day that the agreement that ended World War I was signed (hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918); July 14, 1789 – Bastille Day; 1410 – the Battle of Grunwald.

December 7, 1941, is “a date which will live in infamy” — it is the day that Japan attacked the U.S. Navy base in Pearl Harbor.
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November 16, 2012 — Two Sisters Art Shows

Dear William, Daniel, (and Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Yesterday I spoke a bit about my brother Tom’s talent as an artist. Well, he is not the only artist in our family. We know that my Paternal Grandmother (my Father’s Mother; one of your eight Great-Great-Grandmothers), Janina Kostro (nee Gutowska), was very handy with a paint brush. My Mom’s Brother, Wójcio Bolek Dzikowski was also talented, both in drawing and in music. Babcia Krysia’s Sister, Hania Neumann, is also a great painter, and her husband, Lee Levine, is a great sculptor. Their eldest daughter (my niece), Alina Levine, has also exhibited her artistic abilities. My sister Olenka Philippas (nee Kostro) has demonstrated her artistic abilities in several areas, although she has concentrated most of her art-development on music (just like Wójcio Bolek).

Tom Kostro

Tom Kostro

Janina Kostro

Janina Kostro

Bolek Dzikowski

Bolek Dzikowski

Hania Neumann

Hania Neumann

Lee Levine

Lee Levine

Alina Levine

Alina Levine

Olenka Philippas

Olenka Philippas

2012_11_16_Olenka-Philippas

However, today, I want to focus on the artistry of my two younger sisters, Hanka Kostro and Elzunia Hirsch (nee Kostro).
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November 12, 2012 — Veterans Day

Dear William and Daniel, (and Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Once a year, we celebrate Veterans Day — the official day of celebration is November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the agreement that ended World War I (hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918). (Note: Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day [observed annually on the last Monday of May] is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving.)
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