Erika Puussaar honored by American Nationalities Movement
Erika Puussaar receives Freedom Award
American Nationalities Movement - Captive Nations
July 14, 2016
The American Nationalities Movement held the annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland on July 14, 2016.
Erika Puussaar of the Estonian Community and delegate to the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation was honored with the Freedom Award.
Judge Ralph Perk Jr., Irene Morrow and Erika Puussaar
In her acceptance speech, Erika told of her experience as a displaced person in World War II in an Estonian refugee camp.
Erika Puussaar giving her acceptance speech
Erika shared many stories from those days including how they hid pigs from the Germans and how some would collect cigarette butts from the GIs to re-sell.
Erika Puussaar with some friends from the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
Erika told of lessons she learned from her immigrant parents.
Freedom Award winner Erika Puussaar and granddaughter
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