Ernie pulled out some props to show us what he was given to eat and drink and how he and other camp captives survived.  In his hand was a plastic cup with a string attached so it could be kept close to the detainee and not lost (which was really an aluminum cup while in the camp). Should the cup be lost, Ernie said, they would get no food because they were not given a replacement. The only other food given, and not much of it was given, were a potato and a loaf of bread which had to be shared with other victims. People were weak and survival taught normally generous people to become self centered and selfish in order to keep living. Ernie learned that even cigarette butts were gold in the camps and used to trade with other prisoners for their measly portions of food.

  A “Question and Answer” period followed the presentation and a young student, who accompanied her grandfather to the meeting,  asked a question about donations to the museum and then at the end of the meeting offered Ernie $1.00 of her own money to go towards preserving and maintaining the Holocaust Awareness Museum.