From Lithuania to the U.S.A BY: ashley Tchorznickis

It all began in Lithuania… My grandfather and grandmother were both born and raised there.

Grandpa Kazyis and Grandma Rita born and raised in Kaunas, Lithuania

Kaunas, Lithuania

WWII began and changed things in Lithuania

The Soviet Union took over Lithuania

The war caused several deaths in Lithuania

My Grandfather was then captured by the German Army when they invaded Lithuania and became a prisoner of war.

Once he began working for the German Army, his job was to fix airplanes with bullet holes in them. He would fill the holes with led and prepare the plane to fly again.

The Americans invaded the German Air force where my grandfather was working. He then became a U.S. Prisoner of war for about 6-8 months.

Displaced persons were mistreated and malnourished

NO FOOD AND NO WATER WAS PROVIDED

Through the course of all this he met my Grandmother and they were married in Germany…

My grandfather after being captured was given a choice on where to go because he was a “displaced person”.

Australia

U.S.A

Canada

He chose Canada!

They raised all seven of their children in Canada

Traditional Food

Cabbage rolls

Piroshkis

My dad’s older sister grew up and moved to California in 1972

She got a job at VONS and there she worked with my mom

My now, “aunt” and mom went on vacation together to Canada in 1985…

That is how my mother met my father…

They exchanged letters back and forth and eventually my dad was convinced to move to California to be with my mom.

He moved to California with a few boxes and his car…

My dad got a job working for a Construction company

A few years later they were married and I was born.

And that’s my family history!