[Archived] City of Alexandria Observes 26th Annual Days of Remembrance for Victims of Holocaust on Wednesday, April 10

The City of Alexandria will observe the twenty-sixth annual Days of Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, for the victims of the Holocaust at noon on Wednesday, April 10, in Market Square, 301 King St. This year’s theme is “The Danger of Indifference.” The Alexandria City Council hosts the annual ceremony as part of the weeklong commemoration of the National Days of Remembrance, Sunday, April 7, through Sunday, April 14. The remembrance program is open to the public.

This year’s featured speaker is Congressman James Moran, Representative from Virginia’s 8^th District. Congressman Moran is currently serving his twelfth term as U.S. Representative. Formerly, he served as the Mayor of Alexandria for five years, from 1985 to 1990.

In 1988, after returning from Israel, and extremely moved by what he had experienced there, Congressman Moran initiated the Days of Remembrance program. This made the City Alexandria the first local government in the D.C. area to sponsor a civic ceremony in commemoration of Yom Hashoah.

During the ceremony, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille and City Council members will light a candelabrum that Holocaust survivor Charlene Schiff and her husband, Ed, donated to the City. Charlene Schiff passed away in January. The 54-inch high solid brass candelabrum was given to the City in memory of Charlene Schiff’s parents, sister, and the six million Jews and millions of others who perished in the Holocaust.

The Schiff candelabrum, under the care of the City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, is made available to schools and civic groups studying the Holocaust and to the City’s annual observance of the Days of Remembrance.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in accordance with its Congressional mandate (Public Law 96-388, 10/7/80), is leading the nation in the weeklong Days of Remembrance commemoration.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, contact Cheryl Lawrence at 703.746.5419 (VA Relay 711) or e-mail cheryl.lawrence@alexandriava.gov.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in City Hall, Vola Lawson Lobby, 301 King St. For additional information call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Office of Special Events at 703.746.4343.