VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MEMORIAL

From the Kolb Newsletter edited by Norm and Pauline Dudek

A law was enacted by the US Congress creating the authority to establish a monument to honor the Victims of Communism. It was approved December 17, 1993. Is is our opinion that the story of our people needs to be included in this memorial.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Inc. President is Dr. Lee Edwards. Some of the more recognizable names include Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Conquest, Dr. Edwin J. Feulner Jr. who served on the National Advisory Board along with 13 others. Other countries have expressed an interest in the memorial and include Elena Bonner, widow of Andrei Saakharov; Vladimer K. Bukovsky, former Soviet dissident from Russia; the presidents of Albania, Hungary, Estonia and Latvia amongst other international people. Honorary congressional Board is still being formed and currently lists 18 congressmen.

Several Senators are currently on the Honorary Congressional Board and include Robert Dole, (former) Senate Majority Leader; Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Claiborne Pell, former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Dick Armey, House Majority Leader and others.

As of the writing there are 9 governors and 18 mayors across the US that have issued proclamations in support of this project. None of the governors of the states that have large number of Germans from Russia are currently known to have supported this project. It would seem appropriate that the governors of Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington need to be encouraged to support this memorial. Mayors of cities in these states with large portions of Germans from Russia should also be encouraged to issue proclamations to support this project.

The Museum will include a Hall of Heroes, a Roll Call of Victims (as many as can be identified), Liberty Auditorium Theatre, the Hall of Infamy, a Timeline of Communism, a Research Library, and the Gateway to Freedom. The site will be the Old Tariff Building located at 7th and 8th Streets between E Street and F Street, NW. It is a 3 story marble building containing approximately 100,000 square feet plus a courtyard of about 30,000 square feet. The building is currently vacant. The foundation is currently forming their strategy for publicity and fund raising. It is hoped that the project will be completed and ready of opening by 1999.

For more information you can contact the Kolb Newsletter, 920 Hill St. Apt. A., Hastings, Nebraska 68901‑3023. Or you may contact Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 800, South Lee Street (Old Towne), Alexandra, Virginia 22314

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