'Yom HaShoah' Holocaust Remembrance Day observed on JBLM

Photo By Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke | Soldiers, airman and civilians take a moment to reflect during the memorial prayer at the Remembrance Ceremony on April 17, at the McChord Co-Located Club.  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

04.17.2012

Story by Sgt. Micah VanDyke 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – With a saddened tone and a touching speech, reminding the audience of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, Bob gave several hundred soldiers a chance to hear a firsthand story from a Holocaust survivor. He is part of the small percentage of children who survived the extermination.

In Hebrew, the Holocaust Remembrance Day is called “Yom HaShoah” and it serves as a day for everyone to remember the Jewish genocide that took place over 70 years ago. In July 1979 the U.S. Congress designated one week every year to remember, reflect upon and learn from the horrors that took place.

Retired Naval Reserve Commander, Robert (Bob) Herschkowitz, the guest speaker from the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center, captivated everyone in the banquet hall of the McChord Co-Located Club April 17, as he spoke about his experiences. He came to the remembrance ceremony at the request of the 593rd Sustainment Brigade, who hosted the event.

Herschkowitz said he always looks forward to the chance to speak at JBLM, especially being a retiree, and that it pleases him to share his story and expand the awareness of the Holocaust.
Herschkowitz was well received by the soldiers, airman and civilians in attendance. He especially left a lasting impression with the commander of the 593rd, Col. Scott Lofreddo.

“The remembrance ceremony is very important for the brigade and really for JBLM,” said Lofreddo in a heartfelt tone. “It allows us to see history over 70 years ago so we don't repeat the horrors of the Nazi regime of World War II, and it tells our soldiers that while their parents or grandparents were young; they had these types of horrors to get through.”

Lofreddo was very pleased with having a guest speaker of this magnitude assist with explaining the importance of the Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Just as Col. Lofreddo was affected by the plight of the guest speaker, his Equal Opportunity Adviser (EOA), Sgt. 1st Class Fernice Morton from the U.S. Virgin Islands, was also moved by Herschkowitz’s story and the hardships he faced during the Holocaust.

“A major cause of the Holocaust was because of race issues,” Morton said in a somber tone. “It is important that we are aware of racism and discrimination that still exists, even today. As an EOA, part of my responsibility is to make soldiers and family members aware that genocide and discrimination still happens. We have to make everyone aware that discrimination must be combated and has to be stopped.”

“We learned about this gentleman's plight and his families’ hardships during World War II,” said Lofreddo with conviction. “But more importantly, we learned through context how not to treat others in life.”

• Date Taken: 04.17.2012
• Date Posted: 04.25.2012 20:16
• Story ID: 87341
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US