This Year's Banquet

Mr. Irene and I just attended the annual banquet hosted by Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. Our friends V and her husband again joined us for the weekend. It was a great occasion.

The Madison Club once more decorated the tables in the tricolors of the Lithuanian flag.

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This year, Mr. Irene welcomed the guests.

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Guests enjoyed cocktails before the meal. Some of us eat the olives first.

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We had a great turnout.

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The chef is becoming expert at preparing Lithuanian dishes.

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We started out with a favorite: Šaltibarščiai.

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The kitchen remembered to serve the soup with a traditional accompaniment: boiled potatoes.

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Our featured speaker this year was Dr. Audrius Plioplys, creator of the Hope and Spirit exhibit.

Anniversary of the Later Deportations

March 25, 1949.

Here's an (English-language) account of the 1941 deportations. More here.

A folder of photos marked, "NOT FOR PUBLICATION."

Author Ruta Sepetys writes about a discovery of her family's photos.

Read here and here about the exhibits to which Sepetys refers.

"Letters from Siberia"

The documentary, "Letters from Siberia," is part of the Hope and Spirit exhibit hosted last winter by the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture.

The documentary is now available online. The video appears in four parts: Part I is here; Part II is here; Part III is here, and; Part IV here.

The narration is in English.

UPDATE: This site has all of the video links on one page. Go here to read about the letters.

"Hope and Spirit"

If you live in the Chicago area, or if you visit the city between now and January 12, 2012, check out this exhibit.