Care Package 'Thank You' 67 years later

Dolores' family sent care packages after the war. In about 1947, one of those packages included a couple of dresses that had been worn by Dolores, who was about nine years-old at the time. As the Schmätjen family had no young girls at the time, they gave those dresses to the neighbor family. In the living room of the Schmätjen family, 67 years later, the recipient of those dresses came to say 'thank you.' It was an emotional meeting for Dolores Petit and Gerlinda Schwelgin who still lives right next door.

Dolores Petit meets Gerlinda Schwelgin

 Dolores and Gerlinda look at old photos

Trunks used when Dolores' grandfather emigrated to America were used on his return trip in 1950. They are kept in the garage of the Schmätjen family farm in Steinfeld.