Hear First-Hand Account of Holocaust at Des Moines University

Bring Your Lunch, Learn About One of History's Greatest Tragedies

DES MOINES, IA (04/13/2009)(readMedia)--

It is said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. With this in mind, Des Moines' Peter Pintus, a Holocaust survivor, will share his stories and memories on April 21 at noon at Des Moines University.

The public is invited to attend this free event in the Student Education Center auditorium, 3300 Grand Avenue. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch. There is a cafeteria in the Student Education Center for those interested in purchasing a hot lunch.

Des Moines University (DMU) encourages students, staff and faculty to be well-informed on many topics. This is Pintus' third year presenting at DMU and each presentation has provoked a tearful standing ovation.

"As long as I am alive I will remind people what happened at that time. I feel that is my obligation as a survivor," he said.

Pintus has lived in Des Moines since 1964 and is now assistant to the rabbi at the Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Des Moines and chaplain emeritus in the Iowa Health System. His memories are part of the Testimony to Tolerance, the Des Moines Public Library's video series of Holocaust survivors' stories. Testimony to Tolerance is a collection of 17 Iowa survivor stories. It is available on the second floor of the new central Des Moines library as part of the visual history collection.

What: Lunch & learn about the Holocaust

When: April 21, noon - 1 p.m.

Where: Des Moines University, Student Education Center auditorium, 3300 Grand Avenue.

Who: Anyone interested in the topic is invited to attend.

More info: Visit www.dmu.edu/campus for directions. No RSVP necessary. Free parking behind the building.

Des Moines University is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.

-30-