This fall, St. Louisans Kathy Lass and Joe Pereles traveled to Baltimore to participate in an event marking the 20th anniversary of the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center. Lass is Vice Chair of the Holocaust Tracing Service’s Advisory Council and Pereles is Vice Chair of the American Red Cross Board of Governors and liaison to the Holocaust Tracing Service.

The Tracing Service serves as a national clearinghouse for searches of Nazi and Soviet records (among others) for families seeking to learn the fate of the missing. In the 20 years since the Center opened, it has assisted in 43,000 searches -with approximately 22,000 searches resulting in some information being found for inquirers. “Many of these volunteers helped find people alive after half a century. For the more than 1,600 families brought together through the work of the Center, this information is priceless and life changing,” said McGovern.

Tracing activities are offered at no cost for survivors and their families so they can obtain information, resolution and in some cases, documentation that will help them secure reparations. For more information on the Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, contact Kathy Lass of the local Red Cross Chapter at 314-367-8843.