The staff readers for the current PTPI Global Book Club selection, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, shared personal experiences related to a recurring theme in the book: memorials to past events that go unnoticed. Learn more about the readers now and stay tuned for the first discussion.
Stumbling upon a memorial of significance…
The sculpture designed by Kenneth Treister in Miami, FL. Photo courtesy of Karen Hoch.
Karen Hoch, Managing Director, Americas Region and Conferences – Holocaust Memorial in Miami, Florida
It wasn’t a beach day so we enjoyed riding bikes around town. I was not prepared to be completely taken aback by a spectacular sculpture we came upon, which was created by Kenneth Treister at the Holocaust Memorial in Miami.
We learned that Treister, an artist and sculptor, was commissioned to create a structure to memorialize the Holocaust. He created an amazing piece that is held within commemorative walls and surrounded by a serene lily pond. It was dedicated in February 1990 and its impact is overwhelming. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t expecting to be brought back to this horrific time in our world’s history, perhaps the weather (overcast and misty) added to the sadness I felt for the thousands of innocent lives that were lost, or perhaps it was because I was just beginning to read Sarah’s Key so the topic was very fresh in my mind. Despite the graphic display and the uncomfortable feelings it conjured in me, I’m glad we happened to stumble upon this masterful memorial.
It is amazing to look around in your own community and realize how many statues, plaques, fountains, parks, and sculptures have been created in honor of a significant event or person. Some are well known, others hardly known. Whether in our own backyard or halfway around the world, I believe we should all be mindful of the history that surrounds us and the lessons that might be learned.
Rebecca Nunn, Manager, Administration – Clark’s Point in Kansas City, Missouri
The Clark's Point Memorial in Kansas City, MO. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Nunn.
The memorial I stumbled upon happened to be during the Global Youth Forum this past November in Kansas City. The students took a quick tour of Kansas City and I was on one of the buses. I figured we would go to the normal KC landmarks – Union Station, WWI Memorial, Power & Light District, Country Club Plaza… After the students toured our office we made a right turn towards the West Bottoms, which as you can tell by the name, is not the best part of Kansas City. We went through a small neighborhood and suddenly we were on top of a beautiful bluff overlooking the whole city and the Missouri River! The road was cobblestone and a huge statue of Lewis and Clark with Sacagawea was in the middle. The park and the statue memorialize their journey back home.
I couldn’t believe I have lived in Kansas City my whole life and have never even heard of this memorial. We did not get out that day, but the next weekend I went back with my husband who also has never heard of the memorial and we discovered a beautiful walking trail and a small park. It is amazing to me how many memorials are all around us and how easy it is to miss them in our everyday life.
Atomic Annie sits in Freedom Park in Fort Riley, KS. Photo courtesy of Eileen Purkeypile.
Eileen Purkeypile, Coordinator, Membership Services – Freedom Park in Fort Riley, Kansas
A couple of months ago I was returning from a weekend trip to Enterprise, Kansas and stumbled upon an awkwardly situated cannon atop a hill across Fort Riley. I am no history buff nor a weapon enthusiast, so I didn’t expect to learn much from this experience. Standing next to this enormous M65 Atomic Cannon (aka Atomic Annie) in the middle of nowhere Kansas, taught me more about war than I ever imagined it would. I stood beside Atomic Annie, basking in the warmth, wind and peace of the flint hills. I closed my eyes and imagined the events Atomic Annie had witnessed and been a part of. War, death, hatred, insecurity, fear, destruction.
Atomic Annie was built as the largest mobile artillery weapon in 1952 to deter the Soviet Union during the Cold War. She weighed 47 tons, was 42 feet long and was transported by two detachable tractors. Interestingly, Atomic Annie made her debut during President Eisenhower’s inaugural parade on January 20, 1953 in Washington, DC. Of the twenty Atomic Annies created, 8 survived the Cold War and the largest is the one located in Kansas.
Like Atomic Annie, Sarah’s Key served as a reminder of the dreadful power of war. I am excited to revisit such an amazing portrayal of the Holocaust with you and hope this reminder will inspire you to promote love and peace in your daily life. If you are ever on I-70 in Kansas and in search of a great view of the flint hills, I encourage you to stop by and greet Atomic Annie. She might inspire you to remember and never forget history, like she did me.
People to People International’s Global Book Club is a way to connect with your global community. Global Book Club members communicate about valuable, international topics and gain unique insight and understanding of various cultural views in relation to those topics. For more information on People to People International, visit www.ptpi.org
The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of PTPI or its Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.