Honors & Awards
Correspondence from Henrietta Szold to Martha SharpJewish Zionist leader and humanitarian Henrietta Szold responds to Martha Sharp in 1944:
"I cannot recall many incidents in my life so stirring, so faith-inspiring, as the contents of your letter, as the undertaking you have entered upon and influenced others to espouse." |
Eleanor Roosevelt References the Sharps' Efforts in her "My Day" Newspaper Columns"I receive word every day of small groups that are trying to do relief work in different parts of Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Waitstill Sharp, of Massachusetts, under the auspices of the Friends of Czechoslovakia, and cooperating with the Red Cross and other organizations, have just sailed to work among youth and children of France."
"Of course, it seems to me that all such groups should be coordinated in closer cooperation with the Red Cross, for all available workers and all possible equipment should be directed by a coordinating group. I hope experienced workers such as these will realize this necessity and put themselves under the direction of a central organization." |
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The Medal of Valor was awarded to Martha and Waitstill Sharp, 2012.
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Organizations the Sharps Worked With During Their Years Abroad
American Unitarian Association (AUA)
American Committee for Relief in Czechoslovakia (AmRelCzech) British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia (BCRC) Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Committee for the Placement of Intellectual Refugees Jewish Refugee Committee Society of Friends AKA Quakers British Committee for Refugees American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish emigration agency (HICEM) Unitarian Case Work Committee American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Unitarian Service Committee (USC) U.S. Committee for the Care of European Children (USCOM) League of Red Cross Societies Displaced Persons Division of the Middle East Mission of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation (UNRRA) House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Czech gov’t Emergency Committee for Refugees American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) National Security Resources Board (NSRB) National Committee of American Friends of Czechoslovakia International Labour Organization (ILO) |
Additional Honors |
Yad Vashem – The World Center for Holocaust Research, Documentation, Education and Commemoration. In 2006, Yad Vashem posthumously awarded the Sharps the honor of “Righteous Among the Nations” (only the second and third Americans of more 25,000 so honored).
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The Anti-Defamation League – The "Courage to Care" Award was posthumously presented to the Sharps. The ADL uses the film to educate "No Hate" behavior to teachers in their reach of 50,000 school and law enforcement officials all over the world.
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Red Cross of Service – Awarded by the Government of Portugal to Waitstill Sharp in 1944. We will be seeking a greater partnership with the Red Cross world-wide to promote this story and its ideals.
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The Order of the White Lion –Awarded to Waitstill Sharp by the government of Czechoslovakia (Benes-Masaryk regime) in 1947.
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