Holocaust Memorial

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day and it was the turn of Pentrehafod School to host the commemoration event, and what a fantastic job they did. It is also the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Following the introduction by the headteacher and the Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl, I was called on to read out the statement of commitment. This is as follows:

1. We recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning.
2. We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our nations’ collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and re-affirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice.
3. We must make sure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.
4. We value the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives to protect or rescue victims, as a touchstone of the human capacity for good in the face of evil.
5. We recognise that humanity is still scarred by the belief that race, religion, disability or sexuality make some people’s lives worth less than others. Genocide, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination will continue. We have a shared responsibility to fight these evils.
6. We pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education and research about the Holocaust and other genocide. We will do our utmost to make sure that the lessons of such events are fully learnt.
7. We will continue to encourage Holocaust remembrance by holding an annual UK Holocaust Memorial Day. We condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination and racism. We value a free, tolerant and democratic society. 

We were then treated to a presentation regarding the works of art produced by Pentrehafod pupils for the event. These are pictured below and are themed around the shoes and luggage left behind by the victims of the holocaust.

Pupils from year 7 then performed a couple of dramatic pieces and we were treated to a couple of songs from the excellent school choir, before Mrs Norma Glass lit the candle to symbolise peace and hope for the future.

Holocaust Memorial Day is of course primarily about remembering the victims of the holocaust between 1941 and 1945 and the Nazi persecution from 1933 to 1945, but we also remember the victims of persecution by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, Rwanda in 1994, Bosnia in 1995, and Darfur from 2003 to the present amongst many others.

The event also brought back memories of my visit to Srebrenica in 2015 with the Assembly, when we were told that there are still 40,000 missing persons in the former Yugoslavia from a war that ended 20 years previously. My account of that visit and the traumatic aftermath of the war can be read here.

It seems that there is no limit to the atrocities that humankind can visit on their fellow men, women and children, This day is there to remind us of that and to encourage us to speak out so that it never happens again.