Saturday, January 27th marked Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.
Holocaust Memorial Day was established following an MP’s visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau with the Holocaust Educational Trust. Moved by his visit, Andrew Dismore MP proposed a bill, “to introduce a day to learn and remember the Holocaust”.
The Holocaust Educational Trust has been closely involved in the establishment and development of Holocaust Memorial Day since its inception in 2000.
In the lead-up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events took place in schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, including Parliament, to remember all the victims of the Holocaust.
Last week in Parliament, I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment. In doing so, I was pledging my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.
Southend Mayor, Fay Evans, lead a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the lives of those who perished.
A commemoration was held on Sunday, January 28th in the Civic Centre Council Chamber with a key address by holocaust survivor, Mr Manfred Goldberg.
In Rochford, a Holocaust Memorial Day event took place at the Mill Arts and Events Centre with guest speaker Leslie, holocaust survivor.
As the holocaust moves from living history, to just history, it becomes ever moore important that we take the time to remember the victims and also pay tribute to the survivors.