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MEDAL OF HONOR CEREMONY ATTENDED BY JFR’S STANLEE STAHL
On Monday, March 2, I had the honor and privilege of attending the Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House. Three medals were awarded. The President presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds (World War II), posthumously to Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis (Operation Enduring Freedom), and to Staff Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson (Vietnam). I was the guest of Pastor Chris Edmonds, son of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds. The ceremony and reception afterwards was a once in a lifetime experience.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration of the United States Armed Forces and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The Medal of Honor is given to military members, often posthumously, for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty."
On Tuesday, March 3, I attended the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony in honor of the three awardees at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
The JFR produced two award-winning documentaries on Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds. Here is a link to the documentaries. Master Sgt. Edmonds was honored for saving the lives of 200 Jewish American GIs who were prisoners of war. Two children of Paul Stern, one of the Jewish GIs saved, Joanne Stern Fleeter, and Jeffrey Stern were present at the ceremony.
Tuesday ended with a special visit to the National Museum of the United States Army located at Fort Belvoir. The Museum opened on November 11, 2020. If your plans take you to Washington, DC., do make an effort to visit the museum.
For information on the two other Medal of Honor recipients, please click here. To see photos from these events, please click here.
AWARDS SENT TO RESCUERS
In March, awards were sent to all JFR supported Righteous. Each rescuer received $2,000 USD.
The rescuers are so appreciative that we have remembered them and are taking care of them during this time. They send emails through their children and grandchildren thanking the JFR and each of you for the funds that they receive. They send their good wishes!
On behalf of the rescuers, we at the JFR thank you as well for making their lives so much better and brighter. Please click here to read the notes from the rescuers.
2026 HAGGADAH SUPPLEMENT
The JFR’s 2026 Haggadah Supplement recounts the story of the Lisowski Family, Righteous Gentiles from Poland. Click here to print or download the Haggadah Supplement. We hope you find this year’s Haggadah supplement a welcome addition to your Seder.
YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION PROGRAMS
Yom HaShoah is Monday, April 13, 2026. Consider attending a local commemoration in your community. The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous is partnering with the Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust for this year’s commemoration in New York City. The New York City program will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, 1 East 65th Street, New York, NY. The commemoration starts at 1:30 p.m. The commemoration will also be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend in-person. Here is a link to more information about the program.
2026 JFR SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
We are looking forward to meeting our 2026 Alfred Lerner Fellows in person this June at the Hilton Newark Airport! We will be meeting our new Lerner Fellows via zoom later this month.
2026 EUROPEAN STUDY PROGRAM
The JFR’s 2026 European Study Program to Poland is full. Professor Robert Jan van Pelt will lead the Study Program as our scholar-in-residence. Professor van Pelt has planned the itinerary, which is exceptional.
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