Anne Brusselman

I was privileged to have known and worked with Anne Brusselman in Brussels, Belgium, between the years 1950 and 1954 with the Red Cross. I lived there during the “Big Flood” in Holland and Anne organized the Red Cross volunteers to distribute clothing, blankets, food and other necessary items to be sent to the destitute in Holland. She was an inspiration to all of us with the American Embassy.

Anne was offered monetary compensation by the U.S. government for her outstanding efforts in behalf of the Allied troops during World War II, which she refused. During her efforts for the Allies she and her husband were raising two children. Always their safety was on her mind. If they had been caught surely they would have been executed.

I was elated when I read she has been given permanent residency status in the United States, which I feel is long overdue.

When her daughter, Yvonne, was living in Los Angeles I invited her to be a guest speaker at luncheon for the Officers Wives Club at Norton Air Force Base, in San Bernardino. At the time I was program chairman. When my friend, Maj. Theodore Winslow, read the article pertaining to Yvonne, who was speaking on behalf of her mother, Anne, he came to me and wanted to meet Yvonne, as Anne had helped with his escape out of Belgium to Great Britain. Ted had never met Anne. I can tell you there was much joy--and tears--in our household when they met.

ANNE COLBECK REED

Sun City