It’s easy to be cynical on Valentine’s Day. Haters say it’s a holiday created by Hallmark to sell greeting cards, and many guys begrudgingly get their partners gifts more out of obligation than love.
But here’s one Valentine’s story that will genuinely make you feel all warm and fuzzy today: A Hungarian Jewish Auschwitz survivor is celebrating her 71st Valentine’s Day with the Scottish soldier who helped save her..
John Mckay, 96, was part of a team that rescued Jewish prisoners from their Nazi guards in Poland in 1944. The prisoners, including 20-year-old Edith Steiner, were being marched to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany to face execution. Later, at a dance to celebrate the prisoners’ liberation, Mckay mustered up the courage to ask Steiner (now 92) to dance, kickstarting a relationship that culminated in their wedding in July 1946.
The two worked as hoteliers in Scotland and had two children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grand-children before retiring to live at a senior care home.
“John is a true gentleman,” said Pamela Shaw, activity coordinator at Bupa Balcarres Care Home, in an interview with The Daily Mail. “He is always checking in to make sure [Edith] is happy and the pair still refer to each other as ‘sweetheart’ on a daily basis. Their devotion to one another is clear to anyone who spends even a short time in their company.”
And there’s your inspiration for treating your lady to a great Valentine’s Day tonight.
