Sousa Mendes and the Rescue of Children, 2-April, Mineola, NY

The Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation US and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation with the cooperation with the Mineola Memorial Library join to recall Aristides de Sousa Mendes and the many children he saved in an afternoon of storytelling from the Curious George series and a viewing the the new film, the Consul of Bordeaux.

Date: Saturday, 2-April-2011, 1:00-5:oo pm

Location: Mineola Memorial Library, 195 Marcellus Rd, Mineola, NY

Participants and speakers include Board Members of the sponsoring organizations as well as NY State Senator Jack Martins, and JJ Prins, a Sousa Mendes visa recipient.

The reception for this interesting event, which marks the closing of the Sousa Mendes exhibition, was made possible by the generosity of Manuel Carvalho of Churrasqueira da Bairrada of Mineola.

"This event was prepared having in mind our youth and has a dual purpose :

First to remember and honor the memory of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Tomorrow April 3th is the 57th anniversary of his death.

Second, to convey and reinforce the idea of conscience-awakening, so imperative in today’s world.

Though it applies to every one of us, it is specially important for our youth, because it is during these formative years of our lives that we shape our future.

The exhibit and the film we are about to see show that sometimes it is acceptable, I dare say sometimes it is even imperative-- to be a rebel, to have the courage to follow one’s idea even if that means to be different from everybody else.

And as we do so, besides the gratifying feeling of accomplishment, we discover and realize that we can influence and shape not only our personal lives and our future but we can also impact the future of many, and sometimes we can even impact and influence the future of the world.

With this in mind I suggest that both this exhibit and this film be presented and shown to as many people as possible, specially to young people, always eager to find and follow a role model in their lives.

If we do so, these can be timely and efficient educational tools for our youth and our world."

João Crisóstomo, event coordinator

O encerramento da exposição sobre Sousa Mendes na Biblioteca de Mineola inclui os contos de Curious George, o filme O Consul de Bordéus e conta com a presença do Senador estadual Jack Martins e um JJ Prins, que recebeu visto de Sousa Mendes.