Melissa and Luke Doggett and Rose Sherman Williams

“Meeting Rose was the most important thing I have done in a long time,” 11 year old Luke Doggett said, as he left the Letters to Rose presentation by Rose Sherman Williams, a Holocaust survivor.

Luke sat in the front row, in a room full of adults, listening attentively to Rose share her experiences. “I know I am the last generation to hear and learn from the stories told by the actual Holocaust survivors themselves,” Luke said.

Rose’s courage to retell the family’s tragic memories during World War II left a lasting impression on Luke. He attended the event with his grandmother, Georgia Hawes, and was touched by Rose’s grief when her own grandmother was shot trying to help save the orphaned children. Luke also found it remarkable that Rose had such bravery and strength, when she was only a few years older than him, to smuggle food from the kitchen of the concentration camp to help save others.

He returned the following day to his 6th grade English class and shared some of Rose’s stories and his experience of meeting a Holocaust survivor.

“I believe it is important to tell Rose’s story so history does not repeat itself. In stories like Rose’s, you learn in a personal way why it is wrong to treat others badly or kill them because of their culture, religion, or how they look. I have always admired our veterans and her presentation reminded me of the bravery of the men and women that serve our country and save innocent people like Rose,” Luke said.

Luke is the 7th generation of the Hawes family to live in the Port O’Connor area starting with Hugh Walker Hawes and is the grandson of John C. Hawes. Luke currently resides in Needville, Tex.

The Letters to Rose presentation was held at the Port O’Connor Library on October 22nd.