Wulf Vilensky and his wife Sonya of Vilnius. Lithuania have not yet been successful in their attempts to join their children and grandchildren in Israel. This is the 6th year of their personal vigil. having first submitted their applications for exit visas in 1975. Colonel Vilensky is now retired. and before he applied to leave the Soviet Union he was considered a hero of the highest order as a result of valiant service during World War II. He accrued 26 medals for his bravery. including the coveted Hero of the Country Medal. and was honored on his 50th birthday by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian S.S.R. "for many years of work in the military training field. for active participation in public work." However. Colonel and Mrs. Vilensky have no family left in the Soviet Union. and when the last of their family members left the country. they too applied to emigrate to Israel. All 20 family members are now in Israel. only Colonel and Mrs. Vilensky remain in Vilnius. prevented from joining them for 6 years now. Of their detention Colonel Vilensky does not complain. He is far from a militant or an activist. He sees their desire to emigrate in terms of family. not in terms of national loyalty. "My army rank is colonel." he writes. "but my greatest rank is grandfather." They are very lonely in Vilnius. I will continue to petition Soviet authorities in the Vilenskys behalf. and because there are so many like them
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emigrate visas