This past weekend was a pivotal mark in history for Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania when President Bush acknowledged the United States' (Pres. Roosevelt) mistake in participating in the Yalta Conference during World War II which divided Eastern European into spheres of influence. This agreement between the US, Britain and the Soviet Union paved the way for the enslavement of the Baltic States. My mother was a refugee -- who along with my grandmother and aunt -- escaped from certain death from the hands of the Russians in Latvia. My grandfather, a high-ranking judge in Latvia, was executed by the Russians. My mother was also on the list to be killed just because she was his daughter. President Bush also acknowledged how the Baltic States have been at the forefront of the democracy movement in Eastern European and the current war on terror, and how Russia must take responsibility for its past occupation and genocide.

It was a very hard decision for the President of Latvia to attend the commemoration of the 60th Annivesary of the end of World War II in Moscow...a celebration which really marked the beginning of the time when the Baltic States magically disappeared from world maps. The end of World War II for us Balts came with the destruction of the Berlin Wall.

You can read more about my Baltic connection (along with two links to two great videos -- a commercial and a music video produced by the Latvian Tourism agency) on my website at www.ivarsonline.com under the "Heritage" link.