"Never Forget"

The slaughter of untold millions is impossible to contemplate. It is hard to imagine that an event like the Holocaust ever took place. It is even harder to think of something like it happening again. Many Holocaust survivors, however, remind us that it can. There are people from around the world who have devoted themselves to making sure the Holocaust will never be forgotten, remembering not only loved ones who did not survive but also warning future generations to be on guard against efforts to repeat it.

The first institution commemorating the Holocaust opened in Israel in 1953. Known as the Yad Vashem, the museum has been called a "monument to a nation's grief." Here visitors can view exhibits detailing the history of the Holocaust and do research in the museum's extensive archives. The Yad Vashem also has a unique feature - The Hall of Names - which will eventually list the name of every man, woman, and child who died in the Holocaust. It is the only memorial of its kind in the world.

In 1959, the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) designated that the 27th day of Nissan as Holocaust Day or Yom Hashoah (Day of Remembrance) in honor of those Jews who perished as well as those whose bravery and heroism helped in the resistance to the Nazis. Every year, memorials are held throughout the world in memory of the victims and the heroes of the Holocaust.

In the United States, a number of organizations have taken on the responsibility to remind the world's peoples never to forget the terrible legacy of the Holocaust. The United States Holocaust Museum, located in Washington, D. C., is among the largest museums in the world devoted solely to the Holocaust. As with the Yad Vashem, visitors from the world over come to the museum to learn the story of the Holocaust. The museum also houses an extensive archives and library in which people can research every aspect of Holocaust history. A special branch of the museum also helps survivors find family members and other victims of the Holocaust.

Certainly one of the most powerful memorials at the Museum is the Wall of Remembrance. The wall, composed of more than 3,000 ceramic tiles, was created by school children from across the United States, and stands as a special memorial to the children of the Holocaust. The tiles often express student's thoughts about the Holocaust. Some tiles have drawings; others contain such statements as "Hope lives when people remember" and "You can't erase memories," or simply ask "why?"

Go To Page: 1 2