SAN DIEGO -- Dr. Edith Eger is a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego Medical School.

Eger is also a holocaust survivor.

"I was part of the final solution of Eichman. I arrived in Auschwitz (on) May 22, 1944," said Eger.

Eger said she will never forget her first day at Auschwitz; she was 16 years old.

"My mom was with me, and Dr. (Josef) Mengele told her to go to the other side. I followed her and he grabbed me and said, 'You're going to see your mother very soon. She's just going to take a shower," said Eger.

Another vivid memory Eger has is when Mengele offered her bread if she would dance. Eger said she was starving.

"To close my eyes and I imagined that the music was Tchaikovsky, and I was dancing to Romeo and Juliet at the Budaphest Opera House," said Eger.

Of all the things she said to herself during her imprisonment, she said she remembered this well: "If I survive today, maybe tomorrow I'll be free."

When American soldiers arrived to liberate the camp, Eger was so skinny they thought she was dead. She was tossed onto a pile of bodies.

To this day, Eger wishes she could find the soldier who saw her hand move.

"So I'm very grateful for the Americans ... The saints came marching in May 4, 1945, and they gave me M&Ms," said Eger.

Eger made her way to the U.S., became a citizen, got married and raised a family.

"I think that's the best revenge to Hitler," said Eger.

Now part of her practice is devoted to helping veterans from all wars.

"I do the best I can to teach to teach them what I learned in Auschwitz and other camps, how not to give up and not to give in," said Eger.

Eger said she too has a dream -- a world at peace some day.

She thinks the best way to mark Memorial Day is to take a few minutes every day to remember and to say thank you.