Days of Remembrance Observance

Photo By Sgt. Kayla Hocker | Sgt. 1st Class Mark Oida, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, equal opportunity advisor, lights six candles one-by-one in remembrance of the six million European Jews slain during a Days of Remembrance Observance May 2, 2019 at Freedom Chapel on Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. The U.S. Congress established Days of Remembrance, an eight-day period designated as the Nation’s annual Holocaust commemoration. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kayla Hocker, 20th Public Affairs Detachment)  

SOUTH KOREA

05.03.2019

Story by Sgt. Kayla Hocker 

20th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea – Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorates the millions of European Jewish men, women, and children killed in concentration camps during World War II.

The 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division and U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys hosted a Days of Remembrance Observance at Freedom Chapel May 2 to educate Soldiers about the lives lost to genocide at the hands of the Nazi regime.

Sgt. 1st Class Jefferson Cookman, equal opportunity adviser, 2ID/RUCD, recited a poem entitled “We light our candles,” to pay homage to victims and the Soldiers who liberated numerous prisoners and troops during the Holocaust.

“We light our candles for those who risked their lives to save other human beings,” said Cookman. “… Who carried the dead and near dead in their arms to a kinder and more humane future and for those who served with the allied forces to put an end to tyranny and oppression.”

During the recitation, Sgt. 1st Class Mark Oida, equal opportunity adviser, 2ID/RUCD, lit six candles in remembrance of the six million slain for the beliefs.

Guest speaker, Col. (Ret.) William Michael Alexander, museum director and command historian, 2ID/RUCD, spoke of the Warrior Division’s role recovering confiscated items and liberation efforts following one of the world’s most horrific mass genocides in history.

“One of the most egregious things recovered were boxes filled with gold fillings from teeth,” said Alexander. “The Nazis planned to melt them down to gold.”

The historian also described the abuse, living conditions and starvation prisoners endured prior to execution. During his remarks, a presentation played in the background with black and white imagery of life before and after the liberation.

“We remember and we should always remember these losses and sacrifices,” he said .

Alexander concluded stating the importance of knowing and understanding the past.

“We should celebrate that we can come, see and learn from history to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” said Alexander. “We should celebrate the life we have and how we can make it so much better through our love for each other.”

• Date Taken: 05.03.2019
• Date Posted: 05.03.2019 06:18
• Story ID: 320559
• Location: KR