On Sunday 15 February 2009, Miep Gies reached the venerable age of one hundred. She celebrated her birthday quietly with family and friends. Miep is in reasonably good health, and remains deeply involved in keeping alive the memory of Anne Frank and spreading the message of her story. She still receives letters from all over the world with questions about her relationship with Anne Frank and her role as a helper.
Together with Bep Voskuijl, Miep Gies took care of the daily shopping for those in hiding: food, but also things like clothes and library books. Anne Frank writes about this in her diary: “Miep has so much to carry she looks like a pack mule. She goes forth nearly every day to scrounge up vegetables and then bicycles back with her purchases in large shopping bags.”
Keeping the diary safe
Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl are the ones who found Anne’s writings scattered on the floor of the Secret Annex following the arrest. Since that day, Miep has kept the diaries in a drawer of her desk. When she heard in July 1945, that Anne, like Margot, had died in Bergen-Belsen, she gave Anne’s writing back to Otto Frank.
About her role as a helper Miep Gies says: “I helped because I know how easily people can find themselves in trouble without having done anything wrong”.
Happy 100th Birthday, Miep! God has rewarded you with a long and fruitful life for what you have done. May the world take note that good deeds don’t go unnoticed. Thank you for your life and what it has meant to others!
Very sweet and beautiful story. I always remember these stories about her as well!