[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ERIC MATZNER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2012

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a 
good friend of mine, Eric Matzner, of Palm Springs, California, who 
recently passed away. He loved his family, and his country. His story 
of escaping the Nazis, and then building a successful life in the U.S. 
is a wonderful story about America. The following was written by his 
daughter Jill:
  It was Austria, 1938. Hitler had terrorized this country and will 
have killed over six million people before he is through. My father's 
family is one that has lost many. Just six of his family members 
ultimately survive. Those wishing to immigrate to the United States 
from Austria must do so by boat, and only with the vouching of an 
approved sponsor.
  My father's memories as a six year old are vivid; memories of the 
German storm troopers marching down the street in their trademark 
``Goosestep'' fashion. As they stopped, they would raise their right 
arm, hand straight out and yell ``Heil Hitler.'' Any civilian who did 
not address authority or Hitler in this way was either beaten or 
killed. Those who survive must wear yellow arm bands bearing the Star 
of David to separate the Jews from the rest of the population.
  Eric's father owned a jewelry store. Before long, the store was taken 
from him, forcing his parents to make the biggest decision of their 
lives. Should they stay, not knowing what lay ahead? Or, should they 
sacrifice virtually everything they've ever known and flee for the 
freedom of America? They stayed hidden until they escaped Austria on 
November 9, 1938. As it turns out, history will remember this night as 
Kristallnacht, the ``Night of Broken Glass.'' The attack against Jews 
that evening was swift. Many were killed and thousands incarcerated in 
concentration camps. Eric vividly remembered the sound of broken glass 
and the smell of burning buildings. On that night they left Austria 
behind.
  They found themselves on a boat, headed for the country of which they 
had only heard and dreamed of to start a new life. It was a treacherous 
trip. Steerage was cramped and miserable. Many people become violently 
ill throughout the trek across the ocean. They were allowed to take one 
bag each. Few valuables, possessions or family treasures survived the 
voyage.
  After the long ocean journey, a large figure slowly appeared in the 
distance: the Statue of Liberty. It was a sight that Eric would 
remember forever.
  As a young man, Eric excelled at baseball and football. He met Elaine 
Heritage (my mother) at Drexel University in 1951. They dated for a few 
years and later married. It was a challenge at first with my father 
being Jewish and my mother being Methodist, but they overcame these 
differences. Due to my father's childhood experiences, his four 
children were taught that differences in people are to be embraced, not 
condemned. It is a wonderful part of our heritage to have been raised 
with both religions and such diversity.
  Eric was an early salesman for TV Guide, and held jobs in advertising 
in the 1960s. He was an original ``Mad Man!'' His creative selling was 
legendary, and influenced many young salespeople who are all successful 
today.
  As I think about my father's journey, I believe he was alive because 
of the foresight of his parents to escape Austria, a strong will to 
live, modern medicine and the drugs that were available to him. If not 
for these, I do not believe my father would have lived to be 80 years 
old and to have been a warm, loving husband to my mother, Elaine, a 
father to his four children, a grandfather to his five grandchildren 
and a great grandfather to my son's son.
  No one, not even my father, could imagine that he would see the year 
2012. Although he was immobile in his final years, he never complained. 
He lost most of his short term memory, but retained most of his long 
term memories. With his ever present smile, we smiled with him, when on 
nearly every day he said, ``I'm telling you, this might be the best day 
of my life.''

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