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Holocaust days of rememberance

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christina Gibson
  • 99th Mission Support Squadron
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  When World War II ended in 1945, more than 6 million European Jews were killed by the Nazis, or by the conditions they faced while in concentration camps.

Entire families perished together, children were orphaned and names were lost but never forgotten.

This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day falls on April 15 and throughout the week of April 16-20; the Nellis Holocaust Remembrance Committee will show Holocaust themed movies in the base chapel annex. There will also be a memorial service in the chapel sanctuary on April 19 at 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend these events.


We will always honor the memories of those who perished as a result of the Holocaust, and we will never forget those who took a stand against Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. In the words of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, we are reminded "of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign."

It is important for us to continue to recognize observances such as the Holocaust Remembrance week -- as individuals, as a nation, and more specifically as military members. In the military, we are called to protect and defend our nation's freedom. The atrocity of the Holocaust not only demonstrates the value of freedom, but also reminds us of the need to prevent this part of history from repeating itself.

May we all take to heart the life lessons that happen in today's world, remembering the reality of the possible and why we as members of the military are here.

In 1980, The U.S. Congress established the Days of Remembrance as our nation's annual commemoration to victims of the Holocaust and their families. Each year, the start of the remembrance changes slightly. This is because the internationally-recognized date comes from the Hebrew calendar and corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan (the date on which Israel commemorates the victims of the Holocaust). In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah.

It is important to note that these events were not planned to idolize or celebrate the Holocaust. Instead, the intention is to impress a realistic, tangible picture of the atrocities and inhumanities that occurred during the Holocaust.
(Airman 1st Class Domenique Harmon contributed to this article)