Memorial Day
y
Russian Roots
BetlAhni
Congregation Beth Ahm
will be holding a dinner
In Honor of
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and
In Memory of
Henry Lonnerstater z"l
Local vet gets regal treatment in Moscow.
For their many years of commitment
and dedication to our shul
at our Annual Dinner
Sunday, June 5th, 2005 at 6pm
Catering by Sperber's Kosher Catering
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he streets of Moscow were
blocked for two days of parades,
dinners and ceremonies com-
memorating the 60th anniversary of
"Victory Day" — the day Nazi Ger-
many surrendered. On April 25, 1945,
two weeks before the surrender, the
Russian army, approaching from the
east, met the U.S. Army's 69th Infantry
Division, approaching from the west, at
the Elbe River in Germany, foreshadow-
ing the close of the European Theater of
World War II.
With security extremely tight — pass-
ports and printed personal invitations
were needed to attend any event —
retired U.S. Army Col. Bernard Zaffern,
81, of Southfield, had an invitation to
everything.
Victory Day is a huge event in Russia,
said Zaffern, president of the 69th
Division Association.
"Talking to the Russian embassy,
someone said there probably isn't a fami-
ly in all of Russia that hadn't lost some-
body in the war," he said. "They were
very grateful for our service."
Zaffern was a 60-mm mortar gunner
in a rifle company in World War II,
then came home to college. He served as
an IRS division chief, became a War
College graduate, then an attorney.
Months ago, he invited the Russian
Embassy to send Russian soldiers to the
69th Division Association's annual
reunion in Louisville, Ky.
A call came back from the embassy
inviting Zaffern and six other American
soldiers to the Russian celebration on
May 9. About 125 foreign veterans
from all over the world attended.
"I thought how my family would have
enjoyed this, but they weren't allowed [at
the ceremonies]," said Zaffern, who left
Edith, his wife of 61 years, two sons,
daughter and son-in-law at home. "They
would have had to sit in a hotel room
for three days."
The group visited the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall,
the Central Museum of the Russian
Armed Forces, the Bolshoi and viewed
military parades.
"Every place we went they gave a gift,"
said Zaffern, showing off an engraved
watch, books, caviar, cigarettes and a
lighter packaged in 60th-anniversary
boxes. He also received a flask and a
World War II canteen filled with vodka.
He also gave gifts to Russian and U.S.
presidents, Vladimir Putin and George
W. Bush. Each president received a 69th
division jacket, cap, lapel pin and life-
time membership card.
Zaffern said he would never forget the
experience and how highly U.S. World
War II veterans are regarded.
"When a Russian airline stewardess
with tears in her eyes thanks you for
what you did 60 years ago, it's hard not
to get tears in your eyes, too."
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Col. Zaffern stands in front of the 69th Division exhibit at the Ministry of Defense
World War II museum in Moscow.