William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-08-01 / 8. szám
Annushka's granddaughter, Julianna Molnár, models the white silk dress during the Schauer family reunion held this June in New Jersey. bunkers for emergency purposes. I asked Frank how they could build their bunker without equipment and make it big enough to hold not only his own large family but also neighbors who were not able to build their own hiding place. He said the family dug a large hole with shovels, and when it was deep enough, they put heavy-duty beams across the top, covered the beams with lots of branches, then piled straw and dirt on top of the branches. They stored some household items in their bunker along with water, food, pillows and as many dunyhas (feather blankets) as they were able to spare from the house. The German soldiers quickly unloaded the ammunition from the burning tank and put the fire out before it could explode. Another tank pushed the disabled tank out of the way to an open field across the street, so the rest of the convoy could continue. Later that night, the family returned to their house. The tank's crew also made themselves at home, spreading straw on the floors of the family's small house. The house was already occupied by nine family members—Frank, his parents, his grandparents and his four brothers and sisters—but there was always enough room for more. The next day, the neighboring families each took a soldier home with them, leaving only one, Ludwig, behind with the Schauer family. While the German soldiers waited for a repair crew, they hid their tank from enemy view by covering it with a parachute left behind by the captured American soldiers. When the tank's engine was repaired and the crew was ready to move out, the soldiers cut and divided the parachute between themselves. But, before they said "viszontlátásra" (good-bye) to their host families, they gave each family a piece of the parachute as a gift. Ludwig was in great spirits and most thankful to the Schauer family for their hospitality. He gave most of his share of the parachute material to them, except for a wide strip of silk he kept for himself. Aranka Néni, a woman who lived next door to the Schauer's, was a seamstress, and she made a beautiful scarf for Ludwig out of that strip of material. As he wrapped the scarf around his neck, Ludwig said: "If I'm captured, I will waive this white scarf and surrender to the enemy and will think of this warm and friendly home, who had room for one more German soldier." He left with tears in his eyes as he headed to the front, never to be heard from again. Soon afterwards, Aranka was busy making dresses from the parachute material for Frank's sisters, Erzsi and Mariska. There was enough material leftover for her to also make a shirt for Frank. A few years later, one dress was handed down to their younger sister, Annushka, who wore it until she grew out of it. Fifty years later, that dress made its way to America with Annushka, who now resides in New Jersey. In June, as we gathered for the family reunion, the dress was modeled for us by Annushka's granddaughter, Julianna Molnár, who looked so timeless in that 70-year-old dress, Ludwig's gift. We don't know what became of Frank's silk shirt, but the white silk dress will be packed away and will remain a family heirloom, along with this story. Áldás békesség. Isten Áldd meg Amerikát! (Peace be with you. God Bless America!) □ Mária Aczél Schaueris a member of WPA Branch 28 Youngstown, OH William Penn Life 0 August2014 ° 17
