Teaching History Matters

Hudson Falls High School students hear firsthand of war, peace

The Glens Falls Post-Star

OMAR RICARDO AQUIJE | Posted: Friday, September 23, 2011 5:18 pm

PHOTOS- Jason McKibben-The Post-Star

HUDSON FALLS — Through music, literature, acting and video, Helen Patton told a story of war and peace.

Helen Patton, granddaughter of Gen. George S. Patton

Since 2004, Patton, the granddaughter of Gen. George Patton Jr., the U.S. Army officer known for his World War II military tactics, has used the arts to help people resolve conflict.

On Friday, she demonstrated it to the students of Hudson Falls High School – along with sharing tidbits of her grandfather’s legacy.

She shared the tale of Palestinian and Israeli youths, who were brought to her organization she set up in honor of her grandfather, the Patton Stiftung Sustainable Trust in Germany.

The two groups – with 10 members each – spent three days with a songwriter in a castle. They had to live with each other and write three songs.

Helen Patton played a recording of one of the songs to the Hudson Falls students. She sang the lyrics, waved her arms, and soon the students were clapping, waving and cheering, before erupting in loud applause when the performance was over.

After the three days, the two groups were sent home, she said.

“It’s damn hard to kill someone if you’ve written a song with them,” she said after the event.

She showed a video clip of a German news program that did a story on her organization, and she read a passage from a war novel.

She called on the help of a World War II veteran to tell stories of her grandfather. As the stories were told, she often acted out certain scenes.

Helen Patton, who’s an actress, singer and director, was the last guest to speak during a three-day event to teach the Holocaust at the school.

The event, entitled “Repairing the World,” united World War II soldiers with the Holocaust survivors who they freed from a Nazi train in 1945.

There were speeches from the son of a World War II veteran now deceased, a living war veteran and several Holocaust survivors who were children on the train.

Robert Miller, an author of war novels, was a speaker Friday morning. Students also watched “Paper Clips,” a Holocaust documentary.

This week’s event is the third reunion since 2007. Due to the difficulty of arranging it and the age of the war veterans and Holocaust survivors, it’s also the last.

While people were reunited, the event was aimed to educate students.

Following Helen Patton’s presentation, James Bennefield, the high school principal, told students they were the last generation that will hear Holocaust stories straight from the people who lived them.

“I hope all you students realize one thing: You are all very fortunate to hear what you heard firsthand,” Bennefield said.

The event organizers and participants also wanted to teach students the significance of learning the Holocaust to ensure it’s never repeated and to refute the arguments from people who deny it ever happened.

“It was very educational,” said sophomore Tommie Hanlon. “It is something I am never going to forget.”

Fellow sophomore Alicia Russell said hearing the Holocaust stories from people was better than reading it in a textbook.

“I thought it was very interesting to hear everyone’s story,” she said.

After Friday’s afternoon event, students had their photos taken with the former soldiers and Holocaust survivors.

Ariel Guyett, a junior, got an autograph from a veteran for her grandmother, whose husband fought in World War II.

“It’s definitely something kids should learn about because you never want to forget something like this (the Holocaust) exists,” she said.

The former soldiers and Holocaust survivors were honored one last time at the end of the event. Praise was given to the event’s organizers as well.

Matt Rozell, a history teacher and event organizer, thanked the students for their part.

“Don’t forget,” he said. “You are the witnesses. You saw the liberators this week. One person can make a huge difference.”