[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING ESTHER STERLING AS CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH

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                            HON. MIKE LEVIN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2020

  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, in celebration of Women's 
History Month, it is my honor to recognize Esther Sterling as my March 
Constituent of the Month. Ms. Sterling, a Holocaust survivor from my 
district, spent her childhood hiding from Nazis in Ukraine. Forged from 
her experience during this dark time in history, Ms. Sterling shares 
her story across my district with schools and community groups to help 
ensure that history will never repeat itself.
  Esther's story is one of courage, fortitude, and determination. After 
World War II broke out, Esther, her mother, father, and sister were 
sent to the Ghetto of Sambor. When the Ghetto was terminated and 
residents were sent to an extermination camp, Esther's family managed 
to escape with the help of their devoted nanny. Just outside their 
nanny's apartment, Esther's father dug a hole beneath a coal and wood 
shack. Most of the time they hid within shack, but if there were 
passersby, the family crouched within the hole, breathing from air 
provided by a tube.
  As the war progressed, the German gestapo began to round people up 
for executions. Searching for a new place to hide his family, Esther's 
father was shot. Her mother was stricken with grief after her father's 
death, and as an eight-year-old child, Esther took on the 
responsibility of convincing her mother and younger sister to keep 
fighting for survival.
  I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize 
individuals who have gone above and beyond to make our region and our 
country a stronger place for everyone to live and thrive. Ms. 
Sterling's perseverance and triumph during a time of great danger and 
divide is not only inspiring, but encouraging. I am honored to 
recognize her as my Constituent of the Month and I thank her for 
everything she's done to make our community a better place.

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