MOUNT VERNON – Many remember the Steven Spielberg movie, “Schindler’s List” bringing international attention to a man who helped save the lives of over 100 Jews from Nazi extermination. In a letter by his former factory workers and signed by the workers they state, “We, the undersigned Jews from Krakow, inmates in Plaszow concentration camp, have, since 1942, worked in Director Schindler’s business. Since Schindler took over management of the business, it was his exclusive goal to protect us from resettlement, which would have meant our ultimate liquidation. During the entire period in which we worked for Director Schindler, he did everything possible to save the lives of the greatest number of Jews, in spite of the tremendous difficulties, during a time when receiving Jewish workers caused tremendous difficulties with the authorities. Director Schindler took care of our sustenance, and as a result, during the whole period of our employment by him there was not a single case of unnatural death. All in all he employed more than 1000 Jews in Krakow.”
On Thursday May 17, Ken Hammontree, grand master of the Chautauqua format will be portray Oskar Schindler as he talks to us the audience as if we were his factory workers just prior to the Allies coming to close down his factory and taking him prisoner. The Chautauqua Series with support from The Ariel Foundation and The Grand Hotel, bring year round living history to our community on a donation basis. The series spotlights the lives of historical figures in first person living history bringing the person to life and showing the audience the person behind the history and the times in which they lived.
Opening the program will be Vernon Town making their Chautauqua debut and featuring a mix of music to set the mood for the Oskar Schindler program.
The program will be in the lower level of the hotel at 7 PM on Thursday May 17. Doors open at 6 PM to accommodate those with special needs.
For more information about this program and upcoming presentations, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org, or www.wqio.com. You can also call 740-392-6102 or 740-392-3018. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.