Context

Lithuania re-declared its independence on March 11, 1990. However, the Sajudis movement in Lithuania began about 1988. I haven't yet found documentation on the founding date of the Lithuanian Resource Center, mentioned below, but it was probably begun in 1989. It was somewhat short lived. There were at least half a dozen key people, of which Vaiva was just one.

So in March 1990 Vaiva's half brothers were visiting us, Evaldas Vebra and Aristidas Vebra and his wife. They were seeing their father, Juozas, for the first time since he was arrested by the Nazis, I think in 1944. It was joyful, as you might expect. But everyone became very, very serious on March 11. The open declaration of independence we did not expect. It seemed provocative. There was no jubilation, I would say, but instead a quiet determination. The conversations were all in Lithuanian, of course, so I could barely eavesdrop. They feared the Russian reaction, but ultimately said that if they strike us down this time we will rise again in the future.

Within 90 days, Vaiva had orchestrated the collection of 160,000 American signatures in support of Lithuanian independence, and had delivered them to members of Congress.

Oh, and she had a three-year-old, two five-year-olds, and a rambunctious nine-year-old to manage all the while.

It's really astonishing when I think back on it. Someplace in this house we have press clippings from those days, and if I find them I will scan and post them.