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The Story of a Rumour Machine
Helga Merits The Baltic University in Hamburg, Germany, opened in March, 1946. Photo courtesy of Helga Merits For us displaced persons, an essential part of our life is hope. Without hope, our life would be intolerable. Hope for our future, hope for a better fate of our native...
EU Confirms Ban on American Travelers
The European Union has confirmed that American citizens will not be allowed to enter its borders as the bloc begins to ease travel restrictions imposed earlier this year in response to the pandemic. Travelers from America, as well as Brazil and Russia, have been barred from entry because of...
Marking the Anniversaries of the June 1940 Occupation and June 1941 Deportations
In June 2020, we marked 80 years since the tragic events between June 15-17, 1940, when the Baltic countries were occupied by the Soviet Union and lost their independence. The sacrifice, bravery and hope of the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, eventually led to their regaining independence...
The Story of Andres
Helga Merits Andres’s family. There are many stories of people that I interviewed or just spoke with, which come to my mind these days. Stories about uncertainties, about loss, about waiting and the need for being patient. One of these is The Story of Andres, an Estonian refugee:...
”Days of Work and Joy“
Estonian American Fund Press ReleaseJune 22, 2020 NATO troops pitched in on June 15 and 16 to move the Tartu Christian Adolescents’ Home to its new home. Twenty-two soldiers from Great Britain came from the base at Tapa, bringing their muscle and equipment to help the staff...
A Short Story of an Infectious Disease
Helga Merits Emigrant Screening and Medical, photo courtesy of Helga Merits The corona virus has changed day-to-day life for all of us. For me it has meant that I couldn’t do all the research I wanted or needed to do, I had to postpone my travels and cancel...
June 14th – A National Day of Mourning
Enn Auksmann Since the beginning of the 11th century, the region in Northern Europe, which we now know as Estonia, has been a constant target of foreign conquerors: the Russians, Germans, Danes, Poles and Swedes have ruled or tried to rule over us. Our ancestors were deprived of...
Back to Our Roots! Youth Exchanges in Estonia REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Each youth exchange brings together 30 young people aged 18-30 of Estonian origin; 20 living abroad and 10 from Estonia. The main aim of the youth exchange is to introduce the Estonian culture and language to participants. 1st exchange: September 21 - October 2, 20202nd exchange: November 23 - December...
Never Again Education Act
A few days ago, Congressman Buchanan in Florida advised in an e-mail to his constituents that he has co-sponsored the Never Again Education Act in order to educate students about the horrors of the Holocaust and he asked us to share our thoughts. Of course, I support the education of...
JBANC Statement on the Proposed U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Germany
JUNE 9, 2020 The recent Administration proposal to significantly scale back American troops in Germany by 25 percent raises several concerns. The reduction of our troops based in Germany would not only curtail the United States’ operational military presence in Europe but sends a message that the U.S....
Vaba Eesti Sõna is an Estonian expatriate weekly newspaper with a national readership, founded in 1949 and published in New York City by the Nordic Press.
