[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF JENNIFER BERNARDES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2003

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the inspiring 
dedication of Jennifer Bernardes, a 13-year-old student whose 
compassion has had a wonderful effect on the life of her fellow New 
Jerseyan, Harry Ettlinger.
  Ms. Bernardes was one of the first students in New Jersey to take 
part in the ``Adopt-a-Survivor'' program, which matches young students 
with Holocaust survivors. Sponsored by the Holocaust Council of the 
United Jewish Communities of Metro West in Whippany, NJ, this program 
provides an amazing opportunity for young students to develop lasting 
relationships with and learn from those who have survived or escaped 
the Holocaust.
  Mr. Ettlinger, a World War II veteran who escaped the Holocaust, was 
the adoptee of Jennifer Bernardes, an eighth-grade student at Oliver 
Street School in Newark, NJ. As a participant in this program, Jennifer 
agreed to learn about Mr. Ettlinger's experiences, and to tell his 
story in 2045, the 100th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi 
death camps.
  Jennifer Bernardes has demonstrated a strong commitment to learn 
about Mr. Ettlinger's experiences and met with him several times over 
the course of a year to hear his first-hand accounts. Recently, 
Jennifer spoke at Newark's Municipal Holocaust Commemoration sponsored 
by Mayor Sharpe James. She has also taken part in talks at the Jewish 
Community Campus in Whippany, NJ, and Oliver Street School, and has 
spoken with other school groups about participating in the program. 
Jennifer's dedication has taught her about humanity's darkest hour, 
and, in learning Mr. Ettlinger's story, she has inspired others to 
participate in this invaluable program.
  Jennifer's commitment has gone beyond what the ``Adopt-a-Survivor'' 
program hopes to accomplish. Earlier this year, Jennifer helped reunite 
Mr. Ettlinger with Hanne Hirsch, a childhood neighbor and schoolmate 
from his hometown of Karlsruhe, Germany, who he had not been able to 
locate after the Holocaust. On a visit to the Holocaust Museum in 
Washington, DC, Jennifer and a fellow student noticed Mrs. Hirsch's 
story at an exhibit, and after successfully tracking her down, Mr. 
Ettlinger was reunited with Mrs. Hirsch after 64 years.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Jennifer Bernardes 
for her devotion and enthusiasm, and for her commitment to keeping 
alive the personal histories of Holocaust survivors. It is through the 
dedication of America's youth that we can ensure that these important 
stories are never forgotten.

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