LOS ALAMOS HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS RELEASE
The Los Alamos Historical Society is pleased to announce its upcoming free lecture, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Pajarito Room of historic Fuller Lodge. The evening will feature internationally acclaimed speaker and award-winning author Roslyn Franken.
The 2026–2027 Lecture Series opens with Roslyn Franken’s powerful presentation Meant to Be: A POW’s Survival of Nagasaki and the Strength of the Human Spirit. Franken will share the extraordinary true story of her father, John Franken, a Dutch Naval Air Force recruit who survived years as a prisoner of war in Japan before witnessing the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. She will also present select clips from the CBC documentary Tea at the Embassy, which chronicles his postwar effort to seek a formal apology from the Japanese government. The lecture also tells the story of Franken’s mother, Sonja, a Holocaust survivor of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Roslyn weaves together her parents’ remarkable journeys, showing how two survivors from opposite sides of World War II found each other and built a life grounded in resilience, hope, and love. Their story offers enduring lessons about courage, humanity, and moral responsibility that continue to resonate today.
For Franken, presenting this program in Los Alamos carries special significance. She reflects on the full-circle experience of sharing her father’s Nagasaki survival story in Fuller Lodge, just steps away from where the Manhattan Project took shape and where the bomb that saved his life was conceived.
Roslyn Franken is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and the award-winning author of Meant to Be: A True Story of Might, Miracles and Triumph of the Human Spirit. Her book tells the true story of her parents’ survival during World War II and has inspired audiences around the world; her book is currently available in the Museum Shop. Their story has also been adapted into a feature-length screenplay currently in development. Franken has appeared in national and international media and speaks to museums, educational institutions, organizations, and community groups throughout North America and beyond.
Due to copyright restrictions, the September 8, 2026, lecture by Roslyn Franken will not be available on our YouTube channel. Please join us in person at Fuller Lodge to hear the extraordinary story of Franken’s parents, John and Sonja Franken.
The Los Alamos Historical Society extends a heartfelt appreciation to Enterprise Bank and Trust for their generous sponsorship of our 2026-2027 Lecture Series and their ongoing commitment to supporting the programs and initiatives of the Los Alamos Historical Society.
We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you September 8th!