Another landmark birthday - Miep Gies

Image by jmacphoto.com via Flickr

A happy 100th birthday to Miep Gies this coming Sunday, according to AP. She is the last surviving "helper" of the Frank family during the holocaust. She told AP that she doesn't quite deserve all the accolades she's received from her heroism.

On Sunday, the last surviving helper, Miep Gies, celebrates her 100th birthday, saying she has won more accolades for helping the Frank family than she deserved — as if, she says, she tried to save all the Jews of occupied Holland.

"This is very unfair. So many others have done the same or even far more dangerous work," she wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press this week.

I have to respectfully disagree. While it's probably true that it's because she preserved the writings of Ann Frank that we are hearing about this woman as opposed to all the others, the fact that she was not the only hero doesn't diminish her own courage and humanity. And don't we all wonder what we'd do if we were in her position? I know I do from time to time.