Sisters receive honours at home
THE CORONAVIRUS outbreak prevented sisters Gisela Feldman and Sonja Sternberg from receiving their British Empire Medals for services to Holocaust education in a Manchester ceremony.
Instead, their medals were brought to them at Didsbury care village Belong Morris Feinmann by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Sir Warren Smith, the presentation watched by a socially distanced crowd of friends and fellow apartment tenants.
“Although it’s sad my family couldn’t be at the ceremony, I feel very humbled and happy that our history will be remembered,” said Ms Sternberg, 94.
Her sister, 96, was “thrilled to receive my medal at home with my friends and neighbours watching. When I pass, it’s important people continue to learn about our experiences.”
Sir Warren said they had “shown amazing courage throughout their lives, educating and inspiring future generations to do better by sharing their story. It has been an honour and a privilege to present them both, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, with an award they much deserve.”
The sisters and their mother were among more than 900 Jews who fled Germany aboard the SS St Louis in 1939. The plan was to travel to Cuba in a bid to eventually reach the US. However, the ship was turned away in Havana, forcing a return to Europe.
After being granted entry to the UK, they settled in Manchester and their mother was a resident of the original Morris Feinmann home.
In recognition of their honours, the sisters have been invited to a royal garden party next year.