Speakers share experiences, family stories at Thomas Middle School

At Thomas Middle School's Oral History Day, 12 speakers visited Thomas to share their unique experience with a variety of historical and famous events. All had a personal connection with a major historical event like the Holocaust, Japanese internment camps, World War II, immigration, and more.

This was a great blend of community and school, as these speakers donated their time and opened their hearts and lives to the Thomas eighth-graders bringing to life the exact topics and historical events that these students are learning about in their classrooms.

All had a special message to share and firsthand perspective to give that the students took notes on and engaged with questions.

For example, John F. Kordek spoke to an eighth-grade class at Thomas Middle School during their Oral History Day. Kordek is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a retired U.S. ambassador, and a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service.

Kordek was appointed by President Regan and has lived and served in seven countries: Croatia, Serbia, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Venezuela and Botswana. President Clinton also appointed him to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. In retirement from Foreign Service, Kordek taught courses on the history of World War II and the Holocaust at DePaul University.

After his presentation, students had the opportunity to ask questions.

Another presentation was given by Arlington Heights resident Bruce Parker. Parker spoke, in great detail, about his father, who was a Holocaust survivor. He told of his father's journey through Auschwitz and eventually about his immigration to the United States.

"I believe I owe it to my father and his family who weren't as fortunate as him to survive the Holocaust, to tell his story," Parker said. "Eventually these eighth graders will become successful adults and what they say will be meaningful."

Parker hopes that his father's story can have a positive impact on the community, down the road.

"When somebody, somewhere down the line says, 'Oh, I don't believe that (the Holocaust happened), my hope would be that these students could say, 'Well, let me tell you what I heard in eighth grade.'"

Parker's sentiment was the essence of what Thomas Middle School's Oral History Day was all about.