Tag: Lyly Koenig Mendez

In Memoriam: Lyly Koenig Mendez, Operation Babylift Adoptee

Lyly Koenig Mendez

Against The Grain was saddened to learn of the passing of a very special member of the ATG family Lyly Koenig Mendez. Lyly was an orphan brought to the United States through Operation Babylift and whose story is highlighted in ATG’s documentary feature, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam.

A great supporter of ATG and the arts, Lyly grew up in Festus, MO, graduated from Crystal City High School in 1993 and earned degrees from the University of Missouri at St. Louis and the Miami International University of Art and Design. She worked in TV and film production, was a skilled graphic designer and fashion designer who also had her work featured in ATG’s 2010 Fashion for a Passion. In addition, she was a cheerleader for the St. Louis Rams in the 1990s as well as the San Diego Chargers from 2000-2001.

She died on January 20, 2015, near Houston, TX, at the age of 40, after an eight-year fight against breast cancer. Throughout, she never let the disease take her joy, humor, creativity, compassion, humanity and passion for family, friends and life. A shining example of what it means to “Go Against The Grain,” this memorial artistic scholarship was created in her name specifically to support talented emerging graphic/fashion design students like her and dedicated with love as a reminder of her unique spirit and legacy…to #LiveLikeLyly.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch featured a special article on Lyly on February 2, 2015.

 

 

“Operation Babylift” screened at Pepperdine University

By: Jacklyne Rodriguez, Pepperdine University Graduate Student

Bert Ballard with his son, who was adopted in 2010. The journey to adopt the boy is highlighted in the film.
Bert Ballard with his son, who was adopted in 2010. The journey to adopt the boy is highlighted in the film.
Lyly Koenig Mendez and Ross Meador respond to questions from the audience. Mendez was evacuated during Operation Babylift and Meador was an orphanage volunteer during the Babylift. Both are featured in the film.
Lyly Koenig Mendez and Ross Meador respond to questions from the audience. Mendez was evacuated during Operation Babylift and Meador was an orphanage volunteer during the Babylift. Both are featured in the film.

On Saturday, February 9th, Pepperdine University screened  Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam. The screening was part of the School of Law’s annual conference on Law, Religion, and Ethics, which focused on intercountry adoption this year.

The audience, about forty, consisted of Pepperdine faculty, students, friends and various cast members from the film as well as conference attendees.

The documentary film featured volunteers, activists, and orphans who were brought to the United States as a result of the government sponsored “Operation Babylift,” which evacuated nearly 3000 orphans from war-torn Vietnam in April 1975.

The film highlighted activists’ memories of the overcrowded orphanages and featured stories of the adoptees who grew up in the U.S. enduring feelings of separation and experiences of racism.

After the film, a question and answer discussion commenced with updates from two of the orphans featured in the film. Bert Ballard, a communication professor at Pepperdine and adoptee, and Lyly Koenig Mendez, adoptee and small business owner, shared their reflections and personal stories.

Orphanage volunteer, Ross Meador, also joined the discussion and explained why he felt leaving the young orphans behind was never an option.

The film also focused on the Ballard family’s attempt to adopt a son from Vietnam. His wife, Sarah Ballard, also a Pepperdine communication instructor, was present and shared about the journey.

Although the film concluded without the audience having a definitive ending regarding the Ballard’s adoption, the audience met the Ballard’s adopted son who was adopted shortly after the film was released in 2010.

With active participation from audience members during the discussion, it was clear that the film and the journeys shared left a strong impact for all those in attendance.

The screening was also sponsored by Pepperdine University’s Center for Entertainment and Media, who also moderated the discussion.