On the recordFebruary 23, 2010
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1074, legislation that I introduced to honor the life of Hermine ``Miep'' Gies, who aided Anne Frank's family while they were in hiding and who preserved her diary for future generations. Why is it important to honor Miep Gies? I recently visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. It is an overwhelming experience, and as we ponder the horror of Hitler's plan to eradicate the Jewish people, we ask ourselves: How could this have happened? How could so many stand by silently? How could so many actually participate? So it is important, I think, to understand that there are some who spoke up, heroes like Miep Gies, and it is important to honor people like her, people who helped the Jews, who worked against the sea of hatred that had enveloped most of Europe at that time--people like Miep Gies, an ordinary woman, who did an extraordinary thing.
