The Bury St Edmunds Town Mayor, Cllr Frank Warby and Canon Peter Barham of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, will be joined by councillors, children from two Bury St Edmunds schools and representatives from religious groups, at a special ceremony on Thursday 27 January to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
This year the event will include children from St James Middle and Guildhall Feoffment Primary schools planting snowdrops in the Holocaust Memorial Garden and giving a reading from the Holocaust Memorial Day Statement of Commitment.
The aim is not only to remember all victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, but also to take the opportunity to reflect on those affected by more recent atrocities as well as educating about the dangers of racism and all forms of discrimination. The idea is to ensure that all crimes against humanity are never forgotten. The specific theme for 2005 is ‘Survivors, Liberation and Rebuilding Lives’ and will mark the 60th year of liberation.
The ceremony on January 27 invites members of the public to join the Bury Town Mayor, Canon Peter Barham and guests in a short service. This will be followed by readings from the Holocaust Memorial Day Statement of Commitment by school children, representatives of various groups and councillors.
St Edmundsbury marked the first Holocaust Memorial Day in 2001 with the creation of a white memorial garden in the Abbey Gardens and a blessing ceremony.
The full Statement of Commitment is:
1 We recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning.
2 We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our nation’s collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and reaffirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice.
3 We must make sure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.
4 We value the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives to protect or rescue victims as a touchstone of the human capacity for good in the face of evil.
5 We recognise that humanity is still scarred by the belief that race or religion or disability or sexuality makes some people’s lives worth less than others’. Genocide, anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination still continue. We have a shared responsibility to fight these evils.
6 We pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education and research about the Holocaust and other genocides. We will do our utmost to make sure that the lessons of such events are fully learnt.
7 We will continue to encourage Holocaust remembrance by holding an annual UK Holocaust Memorial Day. We condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination and racism. We value a free, tolerant and democratic society.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIA STAFF, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. maria.staff@stedsbc.gov.uk
