Estonian Ambassador Mr. Erik Marmei (on the left) is giving his opening remarks. Photos by Siim Sööt
After nearly two years of planning the 70th anniversary exhibit of displaced persons “No Home To Go To” has hit the road. On Monday October 6th the exhibit opened at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington and will remain there for most of the month. The exhibit was officially opened by Stanley Balzekas and ceremonies included speeches by the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevicius, as well as Ambassadors Marmei (Estonia), Razans (Latvia) and Pavilionis (Lithuania). The opening was attended by a numerous of dignitaries and noteworthy individuals including Tanel Sepp, Maria Belovas, Karl Altau, Lia Mai and Erik Puskar and Kaia Kirchman.
The exhibit genesis was in Chicago where the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanians communities contributed to the creation of the exhibit, meeting frequently at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture. The exhibit is organized chronologically beginning with the flight from the Baltic Republics, it proceeds to the DP camps in Germany, the journey to North America and finally the first few years in the New World. The most comprehensive coverage is on life in the DP camps including the social, cultural, educational, religious and sports activities.
The exhibit is also available in a paperback edition (picture attached). The objective of the exhibit is to present information to the Baltic diaspora who have at least a vague sense of the DP days and the larger North American population that has virtually no understanding of the plight of the Baltic people while at the same time collect artifacts and record first-hand accounts regarding the challenges and the triumphs during the days.
The traveling portion of the exhibit, on display in Washington, consists of vertical and horizontal posters while the artifacts such as letters, blankets, jewelry and suitcases remain in the Balzekas Museum. Some of these items may be on display later at the Chicago Latvian Community Center and the Chicago Estonian House. The exhibit will be at the Chicago Estonian House from February 22, 2015 through the end of the month. As part of the effort to preserve memories of the flight from Estonia and the other Baltic Republics we are recording personal video interviews and we welcome material contributions to the exhibit (contact [email protected] or call 1-720-ESTONIA). At the end of 2015 many items that can be readily transported will be sent to the Estonian National Archive in Tartu that provided financial support for the exhibit.
Indeed this is an ongoing effort as we continue to collect items of interest for future generations. In this regard we welcome the input of anyone that was a displace person or know of events that are worthy of preserving by completing the online survey. It is found at: http://www.balzekasmuseum.org/Pages/displaced_persons.html. It refers to Lithuania but change that to Estonia and complete any or all parts that are pertinent. We thank you for your contributions in this task of preserving recollections of a dark period in our history.
Siim Sööt
