[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 57 (Monday, May 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. PETER VAGI FOR SHARING HIS STORY OF HOLOCAUST 
                                SURVIVAL

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 2, 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Mr. Peter Vagi, an 83 year-old Holoucuast survivor from Palm Beach 
County. His inspirational story was recently documented in a film about 
the Holoucaust entitled The Rescuers. Mr. Vagi has shared his story 
with countless others. I .hope that by the telling his story we never 
itness such atrocities as the Holoucaust ever again. The world cannot 
forget. We must remember. We must remember every story, every victium, 
and every survivor.
  Mr. Vagi's story begins when he was 17 years old and the Germans took 
control of Hungary. He was almost immediately forced from school into a 
work camp to perform laborious tasks. Mr. Vagi was one of the few who 
was prevented from boarding the train to Auschwitz right on the 
platform. Soon after, he was moved to a Jewish Ghetto and stayed there 
until the Russians liberated Budapest. However, it wasn't long before 
the evils of Communism became aparent and Mr. Vagi decided to move 
first to Austria and then finally to the United States.
  Mr. Vagi's story, along with all the other survivors serve as a 
reminder of the terrible period of human history that must never happen 
again. Mr, Speaker, I am proud to honor Mr. Vagi's life and all that he 
has done to ensure that history is not forgotten.

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