Saturday November 12th

11 am - 1 pm

Robert Holden

 "VISAS to SHANGHAI" is the little known story of Chinese diplomat Feng-Shan Ho who while in Vienna saved thousands of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by issuing them visas to Shanghai without requiring documents. The refugee only had to purchase a travel ticket to China. Ho planned to offer this safe travel to Shanghai as a resting point until they could get to England, Palestine or the United States.  The book also describes the conflict between Japan and China which began in the early 1930's. Holden, a lifelong educator, has told the story of this tragic period in history in a clear and interesting manner.
 
On a lighter note, Holden will sign his "Images of America" collection of photographs and historical information about "Upper Township and Its Ten Villages."  This is the most complete, and possibly the only, history book about the area founded by John Townsend in 1798.
 
Robert Holden began his teaching career at the Ocean City Intermediate School in 1975 after graduating from Kutztown State College in Pennsylvania.  He taught self-contained fourth grade for seven years and then started and taught the gifted/talented program (PACE Creative Program) for the balance of his career, retiring in 2006.  Holden received his Masters Degree in Elementary School Supervision from then Glassboro State College in 1983.  A year before, he created a well-received course about the Holocaust for his seventh grade gifted students.  Holden, in 1997, attended a Holocaust studies trip to Europe and Israel, which included major Holocaust sites.  Holden traveled, along with 15 Canadian teachers, to China to learn about Japanese aggression against the Chinese during World War II.  In addition, Holden taught courses about the Holocaust and Genocide studies at the Trocki Hebrew Academy, formerly in Egg Harbor Township.
 
                                 

Friday, November 25th

12 pm - 2 pm

Ken Byerly

Ocean City Vet Ken Byerly Signs "Welcome Home: The Lucky Ones"
                                                      
In the book, Ken chronicles the tales of three brave American soldiers and one brave Airman who served in the Vietnam War only to return home to the United States to find a bitterly-divided opposition,  Ken takes us through his life, and the lives of his fellow soldiers:  

Steve Raho, an Infantry Officer; John Laughlin; and Mike Moran, a Pilot who flew B-52 Bombers.  Ken explains that Mike wasn't in Vietnam, but over it in a B-52 Bomber...looking at the war from a different perspective. As Ken says, "No blood and gore as some books on Vietnam have...just what we experienced and how it affected us and our families: Ken has dedicated the book to the families and the 58,281 names on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.  that are gone but not forgotten. He adds, "We hope you enjoy reading the book, and if you are a Vietnam Veteran, you are one of the Lucky Ones and Welcome Home"! This first-hand account of these soldiers' experiences during and after the war will serve as a reminder for some, and as a new lesson in history for other readers.