The 2019 Camp Ohio Reunion – Part 1…. The Opening Reception and Interview

July 14, 2019. The 2019 Camp Ohio Reunion is now over.  Friendships were renewed and strengthened, new friendships made, and many hours of bonding over three days left us all with a sense of wonder of our shared experiences.

We were a small group, which gave a wonderful intimacy to the event.  For me, it was a blessing as I was three weeks in recovery following major surgery, and my stamina was limited.  Many people who were unable to attend sent messages for the attendees, which were shared in two documents:  See Message from Olga Katchan and Messages From Non Attendees. Thank you to all who took the time to send along a message.

The reunion began with a small informal reception where people could meet and reconnect.  The attendees were:

·       Roman and Marilyn BEREZOWSKY of Canada.  Roman lived in Camp Ohio as a child with his parents and paternal grandparents.

·       Phillip SHOVK of Australia.  Phillip’s parents lived in Camp Colorado in Hänigsen, but interacted with the residents of Camp Ohio through sports and entertainment.

·       Daria Valkenburg of Canada.  My father Wasyl MAKOTA was a teenager in Camp Ohio.

·       Brigitte and Meinhard Janssen of Germany, who brought greetings from the Mayor of Burgdorf and the town officials.  Neither had any connection to the camp but were part of a group who looked after the attendees at the reunion in Burgdorf in 2017.

Of course we took the time for a group photo!

On the verandah at Chez Shea in Kinkora, PEI. Left to right: Meinhard Janssen (of Germany), Marilyn Berezowsky (of Canada), Phillip Shovk (of Australia), Brigitte Janssen (of Germany), Roman Berezowsky (of Canada), Daria Valkenburg (of Canada). (Photo credit: Haley O’Brien)

Earlier in June, an interview with CBC Radio about the reunion was broadcast (See Camp Ohio Reunion Radio Interview).  The first day of the reunion, July 10, began with a visit from CBC Radio, where reporter Angela Walker interviewed Roman Berezowsky for the program Mainstreet PEI, to discuss his experiences as a child in Camp Ohio.  (You can listen to the interview at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-130-mainstreet-pei/clip/15725905-camp-ohio-reunion)

Roman Berezowsky about to be interviewed by CBC PEI reported Angela Walker. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Following the reception the evening before, and the radio interview immediately after breakfast on the first official day of the reunion, we gathered together and began our journey back into post WW2 Germany, in the small town of Burgdorf and Camp Ohio.  But that’s a story for the next blog posting!

Comments can be made on this blog or by sending an email to dariadv@yahoo.ca. Don’t forget to check out the photos on our website at http://www.dpcamps.org/burgdorf.html.

© Daria Valkenburg