Welcome
Maurine Pyle

Twenty years is not a long time but we have managed in our short life span to honor men and women who have taught us the value of being human during a time when such things were discarded. Our commemoration not only is a reminder of their efforts but a recognition of the value of conscience. The people we have honored implicitly understood that even in the worst of times people mattered. Sometimes they were people they knew but often not. Magda Trocme took the knock on her door in le Chambon as a signal that there was someone in need. She did not hesitate. "Come in". We are here today to remind each other that "come in" is the mantra of the Avenue; that each of us has the capacity for goodness and, if realized in the best of times and the worst of times, we retain our humanity and save a life. Every year that we have honored a Righteous Gentile was a year that we have gathered together to remember the importance of righteousness as deed and principle. The Righteous are dying. Paula Huelle, Zofia Kuklo, Hans Fitko and others. While they have passed they are very much with us. We especially welcome Kate Lippner who is here today. The Righeous are a reminder of the possibilities when we reach out our hands and hearts and say "come in."