My cousin, B, wrote an essay about the Holocaust. Her teacher submitted it to a state-wide contest and she won first place. B had to go to Raleigh on Sunday to receive her award during a Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 19th, but this one was held late for some reason), ceremony.
B's parents (Aunt D & Uncle R), Aunt C, Uncle F, Mom, and I went along. The ceremony was a humbling experience. Jay Ipson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_M._Ipson was the main guest speaker. The program lasted two hours and had songs, prayer, interpertive dance, and guest speakers.
The only bad part was the two women behind me that would not shut up. Seriously... the only time they were quiet was during the moment of silence after a prayer for all of the victims of the Holocaust. They provided a comentary on everything... Why is he (Mr. Ipson) wearing a cowboy hat? That girl has a lovely voice. Aren't those kids cute (a boy scout troop was the color guard). That girl's dress is adorable (talking about B). Why is he blowing the shofar (a trumpet of sorts made out of a ram's horn) that way? Just on and on... It was very hard to hear and a news crew was filming the ceremony.
At one point during a segue, I turned around to ask them to please be quiet, but Mom stopped me saying I would be embarrising B. Later, Aunt C said she felt like smacking them upside the head with her program. B said the woman that handed her the award for her essay said, "Congradulations, Wanda," instead of B's name that is no where close to that, but I didn't hear it.
B's parents (Aunt D & Uncle R), Aunt C, Uncle F, Mom, and I went along. The ceremony was a humbling experience. Jay Ipson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_M._Ipson was the main guest speaker. The program lasted two hours and had songs, prayer, interpertive dance, and guest speakers.
The only bad part was the two women behind me that would not shut up. Seriously... the only time they were quiet was during the moment of silence after a prayer for all of the victims of the Holocaust. They provided a comentary on everything... Why is he (Mr. Ipson) wearing a cowboy hat? That girl has a lovely voice. Aren't those kids cute (a boy scout troop was the color guard). That girl's dress is adorable (talking about B). Why is he blowing the shofar (a trumpet of sorts made out of a ram's horn) that way? Just on and on... It was very hard to hear and a news crew was filming the ceremony.
At one point during a segue, I turned around to ask them to please be quiet, but Mom stopped me saying I would be embarrising B. Later, Aunt C said she felt like smacking them upside the head with her program. B said the woman that handed her the award for her essay said, "Congradulations, Wanda," instead of B's name that is no where close to that, but I didn't hear it.
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