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The “Zante Girl” is back in the spotlight!
A moving story from the devastating earthquake of 1953, Zakynthos.
It was November 2018 when, ZanteTimes.GR, with the help of Louise Morfis, co – owner of zakynthosinformer.com reported on “Zante Girl”.
She was none other than Mrs. Iovanna Vythoulka-Xifita. In search for her over the years was the former US Secretary of State, Mr James A. Baker III.
Let’s go back to the beginning:
Mr. Baker for over half a century had in his memory a little girl who he had captured on camera during the Great Ionian earthquake in 1953, on Zakynthos. His photograph became famous but he never knew who the little girl was. That changed in 2018.
Everyone knew her as “Zante Girl”!
Former US Secretary of State, James Baker presiding under the Reagan and Bush administrations never forgot about her and wanted to find her again. With the help of a Greek family from Houston his plan to find her started to become a reality.
As Baker recalls, the little girl was then assisted by him when he was on the island as a marine officer. He didn’t know where she was or if she was still alive. His only wish was to see her again. He didn’t even know her name or even if she was still lived in Zakynthos.
For full story please click on link https://www.pappaspost.com
Three Greek ladies, the Christie sisters from Houston, thought of a solution and made an effort to help Mr. Baker. They had been his friend for years, eating at their restaurant. The Christie sisters started their searched on the internet and their posts finally made news on pappaspost.com. The post finally reached Louise Morfis, who did her research with a photo given to her by friend Andreas Staveris-Polikalas and finally found “Zante Girl”!
Watch the video below for the November 2018 report by ZanteTimes.GR with ZakynthosInformer.com, co- owner Louise Morfis and cameraman Dimitris Markesini:
Now….
A few months ago, Mr. Darrell Hancock contacted zakynthosinformer.com in regards to “The Baker Project”. A project where he has been collecting photographs shot by Mr. James. A. Baker III. Asking permission to use the above video and photographs of Mrs Vythoulka. These were to be used for an event held in Mr Baker’s honour. It took place on Thursday 30th January, 2020 at the Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston. Mr Baker himself was to speak of his life events over the years and Zakynthos included.
Mr Hancock helped with communication.
It was Mr Hancock and Louise Morfis who helped bring Mr Baker and “Zante Girl” together after so many decades. Through their communication Mr James A. Baker could finally write a letter to his Zante Girl, Mrs Iovanna Vythoulka.
Now, in January 2020, Mr. Baker has sent her a letter with four pictures. Two of the photographs have never been seen publicly before.
One of which is with her uncle Spyros. Mrs Vithoulka’s excitement and surprise was overwhelming, with Mrs Louise Morfis reading Mr Baker’s letter to her.
Mrs. Vithoulka at the end of the interview wished that the American politician would come to Zakynthos so that she could set a table of local food for him and drink a least a glass or two of Zakynthian wine.
Check out the video below for a report a few days ago by ZanteTimes.GR with ZakynthosInformer.com, co- owner Louise Morfis and cameraman Dimitris Markesini:
ENGLISH IS PLAYED AT 11:57 MINUTES…. Please fast forward.
All photos and video are subjected to copywrite, zakynthosinformer.com
