Baltic Community photograph project, 1945-2008

While stationed in Germany in 1951 as a member of the U.S. Army, I met a Finnish ski team that was competing in the "International Winter Sports Week" in German Alps. Two of them had fathers who fought against the Soviet Union in 1939-1940 and were delighted to hear that I had also participated in the short but heroic Finnish Winter War. During the Soviet occupation of Estonia (1940-1991) Estonia was totally closed to visitors, but we kept our fighting spirit alive in every way the best we could.

Photograph copied from Ken Gorshkow's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Ken Gorshkow's personal collection.

Leo Hannibal's statement excerpt used in the exhibition: My father had been very active as a leader for the Estonians in Tartu, as well as in the displaced persons camps, and he continued to do so when he arrived in America. Our home on Aurora Avenue became a headquarters for the Estonian community. We constantly had visitors, meetings and get-togethers with Estonians from all over the West Coast and Canada.

Malle Hannibal's statement excerpt used in the exhibition: My husband and I enjoy doing what we can to help preserve our Estonian herritage. We have enjoyed the many blessings that being an 'American' offers, and we appreciate that we are able to pass on some of the culture and traditions of Estonia to our children and grandchildren, and to other Americans who are interested in learning more about Estonia.

Photograph copied from Malle Hannibal's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Leo Hannibal's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Leo Hannibal's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Malle Hannibal's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Leo Hannibal's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Leo Hannibal's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Leo Hannibal's personal collection.

The Hannibals hosted the Estonian Air pilots while they were in Seattle to pick up two airplanes.

Photograph copied from Malle Hannibal's personal collection.

Leo standing on the ground on the far left.

Photograph copied from Leo Hannibal's personal collection.

I was hired by the Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle as an acoustical engineer and started my job on September 1, 1956. The next day I met some Estonians who had graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle. The Estonians liked to play volleyball, which also became my favorite sport. Soon I discovered several other Estonian volleyball players at Boeing and our star player and team captain entered our team into the yearly Boeing volleyball league tournaments...My childhood desire was to become a pilot. When I got my first paycheck, I used some of that money to have my first flight lesson with an instructor from the Renton airfield on a Cessna-140. After 50 hours of lessons and 10 hours of solo practice, I passed the flight test and got my lifelong pilot license for single engine land airplanes. I used the Cessna-182 on pleasure flights in the western US and Canada.

Kosenkranius is on the far right.

Photograph copied from Lembit Kosenkranius' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Lembit Kosenkranius' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Lembit Kosenkranius' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Lembit Kosenkranius' personal collection.

When we left Estonia in 1944, we expected Estonia to regain its independence after the war and we planned to return at that time. However, by the time we arrived in Seattle tweleve years later, independence for Estonia appeared extremely remote. We truly appreciated the freedom we found in this country, and quickly fell in love with the Northwest. Within a few years, we adopted the place as our permanent home.

Photograph copied from Andu and Taima Lauba's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Andu Lauba's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Andu and Taima Lauba's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Andu and Taima Lauba's personal collection.

The First West Coast Estonian Days were organized by the San Francisco Estonian Society in 1953 on Labor Day weekend and, a year later, a unique organization was created: the Association of Estonian Organizations on the West Coast. Its goal was to organize Estonian Days every two years, rotating between the cities of Los Angeles, San Franciso, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC. The Days became quite popular and started to draw Estonians from the East Coast and from countries all over the world...Now, years later, I still marvel at what a small community of like minded people can achieve. The 15th Annual Estonian Days in 1981 in Seattle was unquestionably a success. It could not have been that way without the 100 of the 150 members, working thousands of hours, to make the more than 30 different events memorable.

Cropped version of original photograph.

Original version of image.

Eino Moks is second from the right in the back row.

Photograph copied from Eino Moks' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Eino Moks' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Eino Moks' personal collection.

Eino Moks is not in this photograph.

Photograph copied from Eino Moks' personal collection.

Photograph of Eino Moks by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibit (Moks 1b/11).

Sustaining one's heritage, I feel, begins at home and, fortunately, my parents helped me along the way by speaking Estonian to me and encouraging my participation in various Estonian related events and activities which continue to the present. These include Estonian-themed social events, the Estonian Lutheran Church, the Estonian academic fraternityVironia, and Estonian folk dancing. As our numbers are small in the King County (and environs) Estonian community, every member is a vital link and participant in sustaining our common heritage that we treasure.

Cropped version of image used in exhibition.

Photograph copied from Tom Napa's personal collection.

Original version of image.

Photograph copied from Tom Napa's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Tom Napa's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Tom Napa's personal collection.

I had never been a folk dancer in Estonia, but I am a founding member of the Estonian folkdance group in Seattle which was reestablished 3 years ago...The most expensive and special costume I have in my closet is an Estonian folk costume collected together piece by piece. The costume belongs to the Pühalepa district of the Estonian island, Hiiumaa. Every piece of this costume is hand-made. The striped colorful skirt I received as a gift from a friend of mine. The blouse was purchased from a local Seattle Estonian, as well as the brooch, which was made by an Estonian artist in the Seattle area. The rich crocheted lace apron was made by my mother and the belt with copper chains I ordered from an old master in Estonia – one out of two still alive who knows how to make this item.

Photograph copied from Tiina Oviir's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Tiina Oviir's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Tiina Oviir's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Tiina Oviir's personal collection.

I was born here in Seattle, Washington to an Estonian immigrant family...Therefore, I was born an American citizen and while maintaining a life long bond to my ethnic Estonian community, having grown up speaking Estonian at home, I still consider myself very much a typical American of my generation. My wife, Katre, came here in 2004 when we were married. She has quickly adjusted to life in the USA and often comments that she considers herself to now have two homes, the one here and her family home in Estonia.

Cropped version of image used in exhibition.

Photograph copied from Paul and Katre Raidna's personal collection.

Original version of image.

Photograph copied from Paul and Katre Raidna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Paul Raidna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Paul and Katre Raidna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Paul and Katre Raidna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Paul and Katre Raidna's personal collection.

Right after arriving here, my husband and I had a knock on our Motel door and there were two representatives from the Seattle Estonian Community. They had learned of our transfer with the U.S. military through the East Coast Estonian newspaper. We enriched our lives by joining the numerous activities organized by the local Estonians – among them volleyball, choir, cultural group, Mother's Day, Independence Day, Midsummer festivities, and West Coast Estonian Days – and expanded our Estonian friendship network immensely. We had been participating in Estonian groups in other parts of the world so it was not difficult to fit in, especially since we both were of Estonian heritage and spoke the language.

Photograph copied from Eda Roosna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Eda Roosna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Eda Roosna's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Eda Roosna's personal collection.

My family, wife Eva and our one-year old son, moved to Seattle in May, 1967 after accepting an offer to work as a Flight Test Engineer for Boeing Commercial Aircraft in support of their 747 and 737 aircraft certification efforts. The commanding officer from my Air Force days was from Seattle and he ignited my desire years ago to move to this most beautiful territory in the United States. We found a nice home in the Seattle Sand Point District and had a great start with the help of fellow Estonians to enjoy living here...Although my wife of 44 years was born in Hungary, she always encouraged me to support our local Estonian cultural and church activities. I was a member of the Seattle Estonian folk choirs. In 2001, I was a board member of the Kistler-Ritso Foundation to build the Occupation Museum in Tallinn, Estonia about recent history.

Photograph copied from Karl Taht's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Karl Taht's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Karl Taht's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Karl Taht's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Karl Taht's personal collection.

My parents, as well as I, were born in Latvia. During World War II, we had to flee from the communists and subsequently lived in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany until 1950 when we came to the United States and settled in New Jersey. Regardless of where we lived, the language at home was always Latvian. The stories and prewar memories from my parents and grandparents nourished my interest about my Latvian heritage. In Seattle I worked as a pathologist at Swedish Hospital from 1971 - first as a resident and then as a staff pathologist. My boss, Dr. Hamlin, said that I was the first female doctor on the hospital-based staff at Swedish. It was a time when men still had some prejudice against women and felt that women should not "invade" their professional fields. Related to this, during my first year on staff, I encountered many obstacles, some difficult, others funny.

Photograph copied from Vaira Christopher's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vaira Christopher's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vaira Christopher's personal collection.

Photograph of Vaira Christopher by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibit.

When the Boeing 747 project was launched in 1965, I was busy working on its initial baseline configuration development. There I invented the High Cab configuration of the 747 airplane and contributed to numerous other design concepts. But being of Latvian heritage was also like living in two different worlds at the same time. One world was entirely dedicated to my daily work at the Boeing Company and keeping abreast of local and national events. The other world was basically centered on keeping the Latvian heritage alive.

Photograph copied from Edvins Circenis' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Edvins Circenis' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Edvins Circenis' personal collection.

Photograph of Edvins Circenis by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibition.

Ivars Graudins was born in Latvia and arrived in Washington State to Yakima in 1950 with his family. They were sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation. After passing the required examination and being sworn in as citizens in 1958, they felt that Washington was their new home...Inese Saukants was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Latvian parents and she learned Latvian as her first language. Sunday School classes at the Latvian Lutheran Church, folk dancing, scouting, vocal ensemble work, and other activities all promoted mastery of the language...Both Inese and Ivars have been continually active in all aspects of the Latvian community in Washington – Ivars most often in the financial area, Inese working with children, youth, teaching folk dancing and Latvian culture, as well as participating in various folk dancing and choral endeavors.

Cropped version of original photograph used in the exhibition.

Original version of image.

Photograph copied from Ivars and Inese Graudins' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Ivars Graudins' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Inese Graudins' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Inese Graudins' personal collection.

After graduation from University of Denver, my wife and I decided to move to the Northwest. The Seattle Latvian Community welcomed the five of us (three daughters). It is a privledge to live here. We, the first generation Latvians, still had deep connection and roots with our native Latvia. We felt that it was our responsibility to inform our adopted country of the injustice done to Latvia by the Soviet Union. We also wanted to keep our language, traditions and culture alive for our children. I volunteered my time to achieve these goals.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from DVD containing photos from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Jaunauce, Latvia is Miervaldis Jansevics' birthplace.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from DVD that contains photographs from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

Miervaldis Jansevics is to the right of Senator Jackson.

Photograph copied from Miervaldis Jansevics' personal collection.

DVD contains 41 photos. There are also prints for each of the 41 photos. They are unidentified but they appear to be photographs of Jansevics as a young man with his family in Latvia and the displaced persons camp. Three of the photos are Jansevics 2a-2b, Jansevics 7, and Jansevics 8a-8b. The other photos are numbered 13a-13tt (skipping 13o).

I came to live and work in Washington State in 1960, following my graduate studies at Stanford University. At that time, I had been in the United States for 10 years. My preference was for a faculty position at a small, private school in Oregon or Washington, an area much like my native Latvia. Pacific Lutheran University offered me an exciting opportunity to help establish and develop a new business school. I have maintained and expanded my knowledge of Latvian heritage in many ways. I edited a Latvian newsletter in San Francisco. I was one of the leaders of the Latvian community in Tacoma. Much of my professional work involved research, teaching and consulting in the Baltics, mostly to help reorganize collegiate schools and programs after the restoration of independence of the Baltic States.

Photograph copied from Gundars King's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Gundars King's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Gundars King's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Gundars King's personal collection.

In 1951 Seattle had quite a few Latvian families that had been sponsored by the Lutheran Federation in Tacoma. We found jobs – my husband Fricis worked day hours and I did night shift so our children could be cared for. I joined Latvian Saturday school where I taught Latvian language and sang in the mixed choir. Our children danced in the folkdance group and acted in the school plays. We joined the Latvian Lutheran church. Our daughters Sarmite and Rudite attended summer camp for many years. In later years Sarmite became a school teacher, camp counselor and director when her children were of age. The Latvian language and culture was engrained in all the activities on weekends and home life.

Translation of Latvian text on verso of original: June 27, 1949. On the Nordstemmen train bound for Emden.

Photograph copied from Aija Pakulis' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Aija Pakulis' personal collection.

Translation of Latvian text on verso of original: August 14, 1949, Children's Festival at Emden.

Photograph copied from Aija Pakulis' personal collection.

Translation of Latvian text on verso of original: Going away from Wentworth towards Grohn on June 2, 1950.

Photograph copied from Aija Pakulis' personal collection.

Translation of Latvian text on verso of original: We are going by boat on theGeneral Howe.

Photograph copied from Aija Pakulis' personal collection.

Erik Raister's statement excerpt used in the exhibition: After returning to study at the UW, I joined the Seattle Latvian folk dance ensemble "Trejdeksnitis". Our two boys have attended the Seattle Latvian Sunday school, the West Coast Latvian summer camp, graduated from the Latvian summer high school "Garezers" in Michigan and, of course, both danced in "Trejdeksnitis".

Inese Raister's statement excerpt used in the exhibition: I started with the folk dance group "Trejdeksnitis" at age 16 and have been the director of the group since 1993, also creating new chroreographies that have won awards in competitions at a national level. "Trejdeksnitis" has performed at numerous Northwest Folklife festivals, Skandia Midsommarfest, Seattle Public Library events, for the Bellevue-Liepaja Sister Cities Committee.

Cropped version of image used in exhibition.

Photograph copied from Erik and Inese Raisters' personal collection.

Original version of image.

Translation of Latvian text from verso of original: 1990-7-July festival procession at (to) the Freedom Monument.

Photograph copied from Erik and Inese Raisters' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Erik and Inese Raisters' personal collection.

Photograph of Erik and Inese Raisters by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibition.

Photograph of Erik and Inese Raisters by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibition.

I entered the University of Washington in the fall of 1953 and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. I was hired by the Department of Medicine to work on enzyme research. I met my future husband Vigo Rauda at the UW and we purchased our first home in the Northgate area of Seattle in December, 1959. That was a milestone – my own home. It gave me that feeling of permanency which I had not experienced since leaving Latvia in 1944. It is a gathering place for the Rauda, Rogainis and Meneks families for holidays, birthdays, and other get-togethers. It also became the first home of my husband's topographic model-making business. I joined him in the business in 1967. This year Rauda Scale Models Inc. celebrates its 48th year in business in Seattle, providing topographic exhibits and scale model exhibits to architects, engineers, real estate developers and public visitors centers.

Photograph copied from Vija Rauda's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vija Rauda's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vija Rauda's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vija Rauda's personal collection.

Standing: Janis, Vija, Andris. Sitting: Ella (mother), Alfred (father).

Photograph copied from Vija Rauda's personal collection.

I was born in Tacoma, Washington, April 7, 1950. The newspaper announced me as a sign of hope to the new emigrant community in Tacoma. I had been told that I was the first birth to Latvian immigrants on the West Coast. I have studied the origin and development of Latvian music, using our vast heritage of 1 million songs and word collections called Dainas. I arrange music and teach it to the Latvian community choir and my women's vocal ensembleSigulda. For years I was the director of music at the children's summer camp and now at the Latvian summer high school Kursa. Teaching the magical history and wonder of our immense cultural folklore in music...gives me the great satisfaction of seeing young people gain pride in their heritage.

Maija Reikstins is 3rd from left in the back.

Photograph copied from Maija Reikstins' personal collection.

Left to Right: the Ambassador's Secretary, Maija Reikstins, Latvian Ambassador to Canada, Ausma Lidacis.

Photograph copied from Maija Reikstins' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Maija Reikstins' personal collection.

In fall of 1993, the University invited me to teach four courses as a Visiting Lecturer, and asked me to help establish the Baltic Studies Summer Institute. My assignment was to teach the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian languages, as well as occasional courses in folklore studies. For me, the opportunity to teach at University of Washington was a dream come true. I could finish writing my dissertation about these three countries, their folklore and their national cultures, and I could earn a living teaching what I loved to study! The students were talented and hard workers, and it was a pleasure to come in every day and meet my colleagues in the Department of Scandinavian Studies. The friendship and goodwill that I felt in the local Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian communities was energizing; I knew that I wasn't alone in my desire to establish the study of these three languages and cultures at the University.

Guntis Smidchens is in the front.

Photograph copied from Guntis Smidchens' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Guntis Smidchens' personal collection.

Guntis Smidchens is standing in the far right corner.

Photograph copied from Guntis Smidchens' personal collection.

Guntis Smidchens is in the back left corner.

Photograph copied from Guntis Smidchens' personal collection.

Kazimirs Upenieks' statement excerpt used in the exhibition: We had a sponsor in Seattle who guaranteed work and a room to live. Our sponsor was Royal Brougham from the PI. He was a nice man. He expressed an interest in sponsoring athletes. I was a runner so he sponsored both of us. I was working in a plating shop when I first got here. There were a lot of Latvians. It was tough job but good pay – a dollar and nineteen cents an hour.

Voicechs Upenieks' statement excerpt used in the exhibition: Our first gas station was on Boren and Yesler. Then we had a station on Aurora by the bridge and then one in Lake City. Then we opened our own store. We tried to be competitive and we tried to be honest. I don't like anybody to cheat me and I don't like to cheat somebody else. We got a good reputation. Our business was growing, we bought the property and we bought a bigger store after a while.

The Upenieks brothers managed the station in the 1960s before they opened their own tire store.

Photograph copied from Kazimirs and Voicechs Upenieks' personal collection.

Photograph of Kazimirs and Voicechs Upenieks by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibition.

Our most intense period of community life was centered on the changes taking place during the final demise of the Soviet Union in the late 1980's and the emerging independence of the Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Public demonstrations were staged to publicize the need for US recognition of Lithuanian independence and counter the propaganda of Soviet officials such as Gennadi Gerasimov visiting Seattle. As the number of Lithuanian families began to grow in the Puget Sound area in the 1990's, it became clear that our children would benefit from activities that would bring them together to share their heritage and language. I and a few other mothers, including Danute Musteikis Rankis and Juarte Mazeika Harrison, started a family camp we calledLankas. This annual event since 1995 continues as new families join and support the running of the camp program.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

From left to right: Irena Blekys, daughters Jessie and Ona Johnson, friend Zita Petkus, friend Jurate Harrison.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Irena Blekys' daughter Ona Johnson in center holding sign. Blekys' daughter Jessie Johnson is to Ona's right.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

From left to right: Vytautas Svagzdys, Irena Blekys, Guntis Smidchens.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Irena Blekys is front-left.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

Back row, left to right: Jurate Harrison, Bruno Morkunas, Mr. Kukainis, unidentified Latvian. Seated, left to right: Irena Blekys, Ina Bray.

Photograph copied from Irena Blekys' personal collection.

When we moved here, there existed only a small enclave of Lithuanians. However, in the early 1970s for various reasons their activities as an organization began to recede. Yet, sustaining our Lithuanian heritage had deep significance for many of us, and so, along with a few like-minded individuals, I undertook the task of reviving the community. I was chosen as President and served, with a two-year hiatus, for some 16 years. This organization becameonepathway in sustaining my Lithuanian heritage, and the springboard for a myriad of activities – cultural, social, educational, and political. Our activities provided a bonding that grew out of a common past or heritage, a shared need to reach to those in captive Lithuania, but they also expressed our sense of gratitude to our host country, America.

Cropped version of original photograph used in the exhibition.

Photograph copied from Ina Bertulyte Bray's personal collection.

Original version of image.

Photograph copied from Ina Bertulyte Bray's personal collection.

Seated-middle: Bob Walsh, President, Goodwill Games. Seated-right: Ina Bertulyte Bray, President, Lithuanian American Community, Inc., Seattle Chapter. Standing -left: Arvydas Juozaitis, Lithuanian Olympic Organization. Standing-middle: Valdas Adamkus, Lithuanian American Community, Inc. (Valdas Adamkus became President of Lithuania in 1998).

Photograph copied from Ina Bertulyte Bray's personal collection.

Photograph of Ina Bertulyte Bray by Mary Randlett not used in the exhibition.

I arrived in Seattle in 1961 from Chicago. From the very first days it was clear that this area will be our home for a long time to come. I had a good job at the Boeing Co. and the natural beauty of the area was overwhelmingly attractive. In Seattle we met several Lithuanians of our own generation and a relatively large number of older immigrants from the 1920s and 1930s. They were primarily blue collar workers whom we considered communist sympathizers. We were the victims of communism and our association with them was very limited. In retrospect it was our mistake. We refused to take over their self-help organizationGediminason the grounds that it might be considered a communist organization. Remember, the 1960s were the height of the Cold War. They were getting old and liquidated Gediminas, destroying all the documents. Because of us, this Lithuanian heritage was lost.

Left to Right: Vytautas Victor Lapatinskas, Ambassador Vygaudas Ušackas, Governor Gary Locke.

Photograph copied from Vytautas Victor Lapatinskas' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vytautas Victor Lapatinskas' personal collection.

Vytautas Victor Lapatinskas is second from the left.

Photograph copied from Vytautas Victor Lapatinskas' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vytautas Victor Lapatinskas' personal collection.

I have sustained my heritage by participation in the life of the Lithuanian-American Community (LAC) here. I am now serving my third term as the president of the organization. Its purpose is to promote the educational and cultural life of Lithuanians in King County. I have also "renewed" my heritage by frequent visits to Lithuania beginning in 1995. The LAC supports three folk dance groups and a summer camp for children as well as numerous exhibitions and performances by Lithuanian artists. At times we have brought Lithuanian scholars to the city and the UW campus.

Photograph by Rimvydas Miksys' father.

Photograph copied from Rimvydas Miksys' personal collection.

Photograph by Rimvydas Miksys' father.

Photograph copied from Rimvydas Miksys' personal collection.

Rimvydas Miksys is on the left.

Photograph copied from Rimvydas Miksys' personal collection.

We visited Washington State for the first time in April, 1956. It was love at first sight. A few years later, in 1959, we moved here for good. I, Antanas, started a building business called Neringa Construction. Aldona's parents moved here from Chicago in 1960 and bought a restaurant in Olympia that was one of the first K.F.C. franchises. We also purchased a trailer court and an apartment building. So we have been in the business world most of the time. Our participation in civic organizations was first of all in the Lithuanian community organization. I, Antanas, was also a member of the Kiwanis for 45 years. I, Aldona, was a founding member of Daughters of Lithuania, an organization which started in Chicago over 55 years ago. I was also a member of the Olympia Art League and participated in local art shows.

Photograph copied from Antanas and Aldona Minelga's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Antanas and Aldona Minelga's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Antanas and Aldona Minelga's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Antanas and Aldona Minelga's personal collection.

I have sustained my Lithuanian heritage by becoming a member of the Lithuanian Community and participating in local events. Also, I joined the Daughters of Lithuania. When my mother was alive and lived with me, we spoke Lithuanian at home. It was wonderful – the kids didn't understand us and it would drive them nuts. Actually, my son started to understand what we were saying and we had to be careful. At one of the Daughters of Lithuania meetings, I was asked if I would host the Annual Picnic/Fundraiser for the Daughters of Lithuania at my blueberry farm. The picnic has been going on for about 20 years and is one of the bigger gatherings of local Lithuanians.

Photograph copied from Dalia Tutlys Mrowiec's personal collection.

Dalia Tutlys Mrowiec is on the right-hand side.

Photograph copied from Dalia Tutlys Mrowiec's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Dalia Tutlys Mrowiec's personal collection.

Photograph copied from Dalia Tutlys Mrowiec's personal collection.

For my part, I offered to produce a "one time only" bilingual newsletter for the Lithuanian community.Twenty-five years and 101 issues later, I finally stepped down as the editor ofTulpe Times, turning it over to a new generation. At approximately the same time that the newsletter was born, I also organized a folk dance group,Lietutis. In retrospect, its value was enormus in fostering Lithuanian identity and building community. Over the years it has become the unofficial goodwill ambassador of the Lithuanian Community in the Puget Sound area, representing Lithuanians in local and regional events such as the Northwest Folklife Festival, as well as in festivals in Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles.

The demonstration marked the 50th anniversary of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, which was the pretext for the Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries in 1939.

Photograph copied from Juozas and Zita Petkus' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Zita Petkus' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Zita Petkus' personal collection.

Copied from Zita Petkus' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Zita Petkus' personal collection.

Juozas and Zita Petkus are the couple in front.

Photograph copied from Juozas and Zita Petkus' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Juozas and Zita Petkus' personal collection.

We have always been active in the Lithuanian Community here in King County. I joined the dance group at a young age and participated in the Daughters of Lithuania from a young age. Being active in groups that are part of your heritage makes you feel like you are part of a community. I danced in theLietutisdance group for many years. We performed in various places throughout Seattle. It gave others insight into the different communities that existed here in Seattle.

Photograph copied from Rasa Raisys' personal collection.

Rasa Raisys is kneeling center-front.

Photograph copied from Rasa Raisys' personal collection.

Rasa Raisys is fourth from the left in the second row.

Photograph copied from Rasa Raisys' personal collection.

Rasa Raisys is second from right.

Photograph copied from Rasa Raisys' personal collection.

In January of 1946, I was arrested by the KGB (the Soviet political police) for having ties to the Lithuanian partisan movement. In May of that same year, I was sentenced to a ten-year prison sentence for being a "political" criminal. At this time, I was sixteen years old. I was imprisoned in Finland's Karelia region until 1948. Then (at the age of 18) I was sent to the northernmost Arctic Circle, to the town of Norilsk, to a "special regime camp". It was a camp for political prisoners. At the end of February in 1955, I was released to "freedom". I write "freedom" in quotes because I was forbidden to leave Norilsk. Here, I became acquainted with a Lithuanian young woman, Donata, a former political prisoner. We married and started a family. Our son and daughter were born in Norilsk. In 1969 our whole family returned to our Lithuanian homeland.

Photograph copied from Vytautas and Donata Svagzdys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from Vytautas and Donata Svagzdys' personal collection.

Soon after arriving in Vancouver, Washington, I began helping the local Portland Lithuanian Community and within a few years became the President. I also created a Lithuanian folkdance groupAitvaraswith the help of my wife. As for my children, their first languages were Lithuanian and Spanish. Once they started Kindergarten, they learned English. We require the children to speak Lithuanian or Spanish at home as a means of maintaining their language skills. We have traveled to St. Kazimir Lithuanian Catholic Church in Los Angeles for the children's baptisms and first communions. I try to keep in touch with the Lithuanian community worldwide through the internet.

Photograph copied from William (Vilius) Algirdas Zalpys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from William (Vilius) Algirdas Zalpys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from William (Vilius) Algirdas Zalpys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from William (Vilius) Algirdas Zalpys' personal collection.

Photograph copied from William (Vilius) Algirdas Zalpys' personal collection.

Photographs copied from William (Vilius) Algirdas Zalpys' personal collection.