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Ceremony remembers Holocaust horrors

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Shaw Air Force Base Holocaust Remembrance Committee hosted a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at the Chandler Deployment Processing Center, April 27.

The ceremony honored victims of the systematic mass genocide during World War II, including approximately 15 to 20 million Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviets, Polish, Serbs, Roma, disabled individuals and homosexuals.

Dr. Lilly Filler, Columbia Holocaust Education Commission co-chair, spoke about the events surrounding the Holocaust during the ceremony as well as her parents’ perspectives as survivors.

“As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, I constantly heard my parents praise the United States and the Army infantry that liberated them,” said Filler. “It is difficult for me now to hear the anthems of the individual military divisions without having tears in my eyes at the bravery and the determination of our armed forces.”

Many individuals are still affected by the Holocaust to this day, regardless of whether or not they were alive during the war. Staff Sgt. Michael Wladkowski, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron unit deployment manager and Holocaust Remembrance Committee member, is one of those individuals.

“I am of Polish descent, so I feel personally vested (in this event),” said Wladkowski. “I was stationed in Germany, at Ramstein Air Base, for four years and I traveled to as many historic World War II sites as I could get to. It is something I am very interested in, which is why I chose to be a part of this event.”

Although some who attended the event may not have necessarily been interested in the history of the war, they may still be able to gain something from attending.

“It’s during events like these that we understand what happened and how it happened,” said Wladkowski. “It’s important to remember that so we don’t have to relive it, because I don’t think anybody should have to go through that.”

Nine volunteers shared accounts of Holocaust victims during the ceremony, lighting candles as stories were told to signify the individual spirits and journeys. Filler spoke about their stories again in her concluding statements.

“You have now heard the stories, the strength of the human spirit, now you have become a witness,” said Filler. “We must continue to teach the lessons of the Holocaust. We must choose to act and we should never forget.”