10th AAMDC event marks Holocaust, highlights personal courage

Courtesy Photo | Pvt. Nicholas Incelli, a 5th Battalion 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Soldier observes a picture of Gypsy prisoners at a concentration camp during the Days of Remembrance ceremony April 16 on Rhine Ordnance Barracks. The special “Days of Remembrance” ceremony highlighted the Nazi horrors that claimed the lives of an estimated 6 million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and others considered “undesirable” by German dictator Adolf Hitler and his followers.  

RP, GERMANY

04.17.2015

Story by Spc. Jasmin Flores 

10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

Kaiserslautern, Germany - Seventy years have passed since the end of World War II, and while the memories and events have begun to fade into memory, the lessons learned are still relevant. A large crowd gathered at Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern on April 16 to remember one of the saddest aspects of the war, and more importantly, to ensure such evil never takes root in the future.

The special “Days of Remembrance” ceremony highlighted the Nazi horrors that claimed the lives of an estimated 6 million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and others considered “undesirable” by German dictator Adolf Hitler and his followers. Whether the victims were worked to death in concentration camps like Auschwitz, Dachau or Buchenwald, or executed outright, it represented a tragedy the likes of which the world had never seen.

For U.S. Army Chaplain Capt. Christopher Rice, keynote speaker at the ceremony and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command chaplain, it was an unspeakable tragedy that must never be allowed to happen again.

“How did this happen? How could people just stand by and watch this happen and not step in to intervene or stop this or slow this down?” said Rice.

As regrettable as it was that so few did stand up to the Nazi tyranny, however, Rice shared numerous instances of brave people who did risk their careers and lives to stand up for human decency and justice. One of the most prominent examples mentioned was that of Oskar Schindler, an ethnic German and industrialist who worked to safeguard the lives of his Jewish employees, despite the risks to his fortune and life. The 1993 Stephen Spielberg film “Schindler’s List” depicted many of the real-life activities of Schindler in saving his Jewish workers from the death camps.

The Soldiers that came out to support “Days of Remembrance” appreciated the importance of the ceremony. One 10th AAMDC Soldier in particular, Sgt. Brandon Duggan, noted that it’s important to attend events like this so that history isn’t forgotten.

“Millions of people lost their lives. People always forget about things that happened in the past but remembering makes it less likely to happen again,” he said.

At the conclusion of the event Col. Greg Brady, commander of the 10th AAMDC thanked all in attendance and extended a special thanks to those responsible for putting together the ceremony.

Rice summarized the event by reminding everyone that both Soldiers and civilians have the duty to speak out against injustices, and that silence in the face of danger always invites disaster.

“The words ‘Never Again’ are only possible if each of us chooses to act,” said Rice.

• Date Taken: 04.17.2015
• Date Posted: 04.17.2015 08:13
• Story ID: 160322
• Location: RP, DE