Family History Project

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

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

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

4. Kaunas, Lithuania

5. WWII began and changed things in
Lithuania

6. The Soviet Union took over Lithuania

7. The war caused several deaths in Lithuania

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Displaced persons were mistreated
and malnourished
NO FOOD AND NO WATER WAS PROVIDED

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

13. My grandfather after being captured was given a choice on
where to go because he was a “displaced person”.
Australia
U.S.A
Canada

14. He chose Canada!

15. They raised all seven of their children
in Canada

16. Traditional Food
Cabbage rolls
Piroshkis

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

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

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

20. That is how my mother met my
father…

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

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

23. My dad got a job working for a
Construction company

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

25. And that’s my family history!