DeRiggi-Whitton Awards Woman Who Suffered During WWII.

The program focused on women who were forced to serve as sexual slaves in Nazi concentration camps and under Japanese military rule from Korea and other nations.

Two survivors from Korea, Ms. Yi Ok-Seon and Ms. Kang II-Chul attended the event. During a discussion session, Ms. Yi addressed these horrific acts that she and over 200,000 other women and girls endured as what were considered “comfort women.” Then referred to as “brothels,” in reality, they were rape campaigns.

Prior to the discussion, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton presented both of these brave women with citations in honor of their amazing bravery and personal endurance over the decades. NYS Assemblyman Charles Lavine also acknowledged their painful experiences with awards.

A special exhibit from the House of Sharing in Seoul, South Korea, featuring drawings by Korean women who suffered through the rape campaign, will be on display at the Museum through the month of April.

The mission of the Holocaust Museum & Tolerance Center (HMTC) is to teach the history of the Holocaust through education and community outreach, as well as promoting resistance to prejudice and advocating for respect for all people. For more information, visit hmtcli.org or call 516-571-8040.

Photos: Ms. Lee and Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton; Ms. Lee’s family and HMTC representatives with Ms. Lee (center) and NYS Assemblyman Charles Lavine (3rd from left) and Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton (2nd from right).