The Fort Knox community came together Monday at the Saber & Quill to remember the millions of victims of the Holocaust as well as those victims of genocide from Rwanda, Darfur conflict, Congo conflict, Burundi, South Sudan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Chechnya, Russia.
This year's theme reminds us to always watch for the warning signs. Remembrance not only obligates us to memorialize those who were killed during these horrific events, it also reminds us of the fragility of democracy and the need for citizens to be vigilant in the protection of political ideals. In 1938, the warning signs of genocide were unheeded. Today we remember the millions of people who were murdered during these events.
The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) established Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah), to be observed on the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. The Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar so the date changes each year in the United States.
This year's theme was "NEVER AGAIN: heeding the warning signs." The 2013 Fort Knox Days of Remembrance observance began with a moment of silence to commemorate all the victims who lost their lives during these historical events. The moment was followed by the national anthem performed by Nicole Walker from the Ireland Army Community Hospital. The invocation was delivered by Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Goldman from the U. S. Army Garrison, Fort Knox. The host of the ceremony was the U.S. Army Cadet Command Deputy Commander Col. Erik Peterson.
"Hatred is a strong force in this world, but history shows that it can be defeated if we all work together and step in when an ethic, racial or religious group is unfairly persecuted. That is why we must stay vigilant to the warning signs," said Peterson as he rendered a complimentary introduction of the keynote speaker, Dr. Steve Gowler, an associate professor at Berea College.
Gowler began his speech with a reminder of what is meant by the term Holocaust. He spoke about some of the warning signs such as legal discrimination and inflexible immigration policies and how they affected the Jewish population. Gowler also talked about how Jews were systematically stripped of their civil rights.
"The surest way to remain alert to warning signs of genocide is to hold tight to our nation's founding principles: An unwavering conviction in the self-evident truth that all humans are created equal with a God-given right to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness," said Gowler.
The observance was followed by a candle lighting ceremony, in remembrance of the six million men and women and a half million innocent children who were tortured and murdered. Each candle symbolized each particular group of victims.
Candle one was lit by Fort Knox High School student, Troy Boxrucker. The candle symbolized the young teenage victims who weren't given the chance to experience life. The second candle was lit by Walker. The candle symbolized the victims who died with their children in their arms. The third candle was lit by Gowler, the keynote speaker. This candle symbolized all the mothers and fathers who were separated from their families. The fourth candle was lit by Goldman; this candle symbolized the scholars, teachers and rabbis who were first to be seized. The heroes of the resistance--those who fought the Nazis--were represented by the fifth candle, which was lit by Peterson. Sgt. 1st Class Q. Marie Arnold, a member of the Fort Knox Sergeant Audie Murphy Association, lit the final candle to symbolize the martyrs who gave their lives to help their brothers and sisters under the Nazis rule.
Special thanks went out to the Fort Knox High School volunteer ushers Troy Boxrucker, Kayla Rowsey, Ashlyn Koonce, Hannah Boulware, Kaitlyn Basnett, Eryia Irving, Lipena Tuliloa, Jillian Youngerman, Jalen McKee and Nathan Dedeaux.
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