Father Figure

My maternal Grandfather, Jake, usually was at the center of every party. This photo shows Jake joining another Sunday get-together at the Seligenstadt Displaced Persons camp. Most Lithuanian Displaced Persons were young—many were in their early twenties and thirties. Jake, who was fifty-two years old here, seemed like an old, father figure to many in the camp.

Seligenstadt, Germany, 1948. Jake's facial expression suggests that he's removed a bit from the spirit of this party. This photo again captures the Vytis, the Lithuanian coat of arms, hanging on the wall. There's also a modern telephone in the back of the room.