Day 3-Boston

I awoke today by the smell of wonderful homemade fruit cereal. Mrs. Vogel was making homemade fruit cereal. After sitting down for Breakfast with the Dr. and his wife we started discussing Berga and Bernard “Jackie” Vogel, Martin’s brother. At several points Dr. Vogel teared up talking about his beloved brother who was only one and half years his senior. As I was looking at him, I saw the man before me, well accomplished, become vulnerable almost 60 years after the death of his beloved brother. The Vogel’s left for their morning exercises, Ms. Vogel at the Boston Sports Club and Dr. Vogel in the gym downstairs. In their 80’s they still read three newspapers everyday and are very aware of the situation in Washington as well as other political and economical affairs. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit with this inviting couple.

At 11:30 I went to Fedex-Kinco’s and made copies of newspaper articles regarding POW’s from Berga dated from the 1940’s. Secondary sources are over flowing now. Also I came across a diary which was submitted to Dr. Vogel’s Uncle, Charles Vogel during the trial of Metz and Merz, the guards whom held the prisoners of Berga. This contained the names of all the men at Berga and the death dates of 20 of those whom perished. I also grabbed lunch at Au bon Pain, a local café, umm chicken salad croissant, and a peach tea. I also visited Feline’s Basement, where I can proudly say I walked away spending nothing. I returned five blocks back to the Vogel Residence.

After numerous conversions between me and Dr. Vogel we got out a map of Germany and began to look for the site where Berga once stood. Well after numerous minutes… Jackpot… It was located. I expressed to him that my passion is to educate people on the atrocities of the trial and to bear witness of what those whom served endured. The time I have spent with the Vogel’s is priceless.

At 11:00 this morning I expressed my desire to meet the world famous Elie Wiesel to Dr. Vogel. He stated that as a professor at Boston University Medical he would call his office and explain who I was and my desire to meet him as well as his. So we are awaiting a call back for a time and place. This has been an unbelievable trip and a chance to meet Mr. Wiesel would be the cherry on top.

At 5:18 I got a strange call from Wayne Drash, at CNN. He told me that Anthony Acevedo’s iary from when he was held in Berga was being donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on my Birthday! So of course I am going and best of all Tony Acevedo agreed to have dinner with me on the 12th so that I can hold his diary in my hands. I might be one of the last people to hold it before it is archived at the museum. So thrilled! So the moving date has been moved up to October 1st. I will be moving there on the 1st now and then going to the city for the dedication on my birthday. Also Norman Fellman and his wife as well as the Vogel’s are planning to attend, a once in a lifetime experience for all these wonderful people to be together in one place. My trip in February to California has been cancelled due to Tony Acevedo coming to DC. When I thought my career was taking off I was under estimating that I am living my dreams every moment of everyday. So DC bound once again I am.