From the Ashes

I love this story: when the fires hit California recently, Dana Philblad and her family had no time to pack but had to evacuate with their pets and the clothes on their backs. Dana is six months pregnant and so was not wearing her wedding ring.

What's so cool is that at least seven off-duty firefighters went back on Monday and every day that week to search the debris until they found Dana's ring. At the end of the day on Friday, firefighter Greg Fox found the ring intact.

Those guys went above and beyond the call of duty, don't you think?

You think Dana was happy?!

(Photo credit: Joshua Sudock, Orange County Register)

Louis Van Thyn

Update: 4/28/09: Sorry - The Times link in this post is no longer active. I should have copy/pasted the article!

I was saddened this morning to see that we lost Louis Van Thyn. Louis and his wife Rose are remarkable people and have done so much for our community in sharing their story of the Holocaust and the story of their lives. I first met them when I was a participant in Lisa Nicoletti's Holocuast seminar at Centenary College a few years back, sponsored by the LEH. Rose and Louis came to speak to us and, as it was every time she spoke, it was a very emotional event. Louis was Rose's "designated driver" but that day he shared a bit of his story, too. I encourage you to go to this Times link and read about their lives for a really inspiring story. That Louis and Rose were able to live such full and happy lives after the war is a testament to the human spirit.

(Photo credit: Val Horvath/The Times)