FORT LEE, Va. (April 19, 2018) --Mankind must never lose sight of the genocide that wiped out two thirds of the Jewish population in Europe prior to and during World War II, insisted Virginia Holocaust Museum Executor Director Samuel H. Asher at an April 19 gathering in the Lee Theater
Asher spoke to a capacity crowd at the installation’s annual Days of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust observance. Themed “Legacy of Perseverance,” it served as a time of learning and reflection with a goal of discouraging hatred through greater acceptance of racial diversity.
“I’m so proud to be here with our armed forces, and I’m proud of what you do for our country,” Asher said as he began his remarks. “I say ‘thank you,’ and keep doing a wonderful job. Know this country is proud of your work.”
The Army Logistics University and Logistics Noncommissioned Officer Academy co-hosted the event that was attended by, among others, Maj. Gen. Paul C. Hurley Jr., CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel Bartee, CASCOM CSM. ALU President Michael K. Williams provided introductory remarks.
Asher, formerly the chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, shared information about the VHM’s historical mission, noting the Holocaust is primarily told “through the eyes of survivors.” He later made special mention of the local men and women who regularly recount their experiences in support of the museum’s awareness and educational efforts, beginning with a septuagenarian who was recently lost.
“Clara Daniels passed away a week ago,” he said. “She’s was a survivor from Hungary. She was beautiful in life and was one who spoke for us on a regular basis.”
Born in 1923, Daniels and other family members were taken from their homes and transported to Auschwitz via railcar. They were subsequently relocated to Dachau and Allach, “where she was liberated when the allied troops came,” stated Asher.
At war’s end, there were more than 32,000 documented deaths at Dachau. Thousands of deaths were undocumented. Allach was one of 100 Dachau sub-camps.
Daniels later married an American and eventually settled in Richmond. Asher noted how museum staff members remembered her as one of the “kindest persons they’ve ever met.” She never held grudges and she could talk about the Holocaust without any rancor or bitterness.
“The rabbi at her funeral said we will never know the trauma she went through, but we will forever embrace the strength of her character,” Asher recounted.
In highlighting Daniels’ story and those of other locals, Asher seemed to suggest they serve as vitally important components of Holocaust remembrance, conveying the substance of their realities through the lives they touched through conversation, lecture and presence. Daniels’ testimony, along with hundreds of others, are archived on the website Vaholocaust.org, said Asher.
“Go online and learn about what happened,” he said. “You can do it through the eyes of the survivors.”
Prior to the Asher’s remarks, audience members viewed a video detailing the Nazi takeover of Europe and the systematic isolation and eventual extermination of more than 6 million Jews in addition to Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, homosexuals, the disabled, Slavic peoples, ethnic Poles, Jehovah Witnesses and others.
“In the end, the Nazis had 42,000-plus concentration camps, work camps and death camps – 42,000 camps! For someone to say they didn’t know is almost impossible,” said Asher, countering the claims of those who profess the events of the war were overblown or didn’t happen in the way they have been long-described.
Asher went on to say that ignorance promotes inaction. Those who do not learn from the events of more than 80 years ago in Europe are at risk of allowing mass racial hatred to exist without opposition. He implored audience members to be vigilant and take active roles to prevent the sorts of hatred that could lead to tragedy.
“When we see evil things in our beautiful United States of America, we have to make sure to respond,” he said.
Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust was established by Congress in 1979. The awareness and education campaign continues to be observed annually over eight days in April. Those who would like to conduct further research can find information on the Virginia Holocaust Museum website at vaholocaust.org, or they can visit the facility located at 2000 East Cary Street, Richmond. Admission is free and open to the public
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2018 08:01 |
| Story ID: | 274378 |
| Location: | RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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