In a moving tribute on Monday, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) honored Pina Frassineti Wax, a 100-year-old Holocaust survivor residing on Long Island. Schumer presented Frassineti Wax with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building and announced a special Senate floor recognition designating her as a New York "hometown hero."

Schumer praised Frassineti Wax's resilience and vitality, highlighting her remarkable journey from surviving the horrors of the Holocaust to becoming a beacon of learning and love. He emphasized the rarity of individuals who have reached the age of 100 and also endured the Holocaust, calling Frassineti Wax a "living legend."

Originally from Rome, Italy, Frassineti Wax found refuge in Baldwin, Long Island after escaping the Holocaust. During the ceremony, Schumer recounted Frassineti Wax's courageous story, including her family's hiding in a Catholic convent to evade Nazi persecution. He spoke of her enduring trauma and worry during that period, her unwavering spirit, and the loss of family members in Dachau.

Schumer also shared the story of Frassineti Wax's late husband, Mario Wax, a Jewish Italian who served in the U.S. Army and was awarded a Bronze Star. The senator noted that Frassineti Wax's centennial year serves as a powerful testament to her perseverance and triumph over adversity, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to ensuring the atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten.

Frassineti Wax was joined at the event by family members, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. The recognition comes shortly before Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is observed on January 27th, and amidst the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Israel and the resulting rise in antisemitic incidents in New York, including protests on college campuses.