Preserving the memory

The Holocaust was a dark part of the world’s history. This time is associated with torture and devastation as well as courage. It is important, not only to history but also to those who were involved, to ensure that future generations don’t forget what happened to those forced to participate and those held captive in concentration camps.
“If we don’t change, history repeats itself,” said Chelsee Boehm a concurrent enrollment student. “We have to learn from the past and if we forget about it, unfortunately, history may repeat itself.”
WSU will transfer the leadership of the Annual Holocaust Commemoration to a specific department within the university. Some individuals were concerned that WSU would not hold the same commemorations as previous years. The planning event has been transferred from a small group to the WSU Diversity Department under Adrienne Gillespie. Last year marked the 15th anniversary for the commemoration.
“Although leadership and coordination is shifting, the commemoration will be similar,” said Barry Gomberg, WSU director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity. “We needed to find a permanent and secure home for the commemoration, so we were grateful when Adrienne volunteered to take it under her wing.”
The transfer of the commemoration planning took place so the responsibility could be given to dedicated members, since the volunteer staff was taking on so much.
Geanette Havas, a Holocaust survivor and commemoration speaker, passed away last month. Gomberg said he remembers the speech she gave in the Wildcat Theater. He said it gave survivors a place to speak freely about what happened to them and share their stories and that a positive catharsis took place there.
Some events will still be held at WSU though not specifically dedicated to Holocaust survivors as they have been in the past. In previous years, events for the commemoration have included a performance from Spectrum Dance Theater, a screening of the documentary film War Child, speaker Rabbi Jeffrey Summit presenting his lecture “Cabaret at the Edge of the World: Performing in the Shadow of the Holocaust” and speakers Kathleen Herndon and Karen Brookens with their lecture “Reflection on Brunibar.” Students also contributed by conducting scholarly or creative research for prizes.
Witnessing or remembering events like this in history make some individuals feel guilty that they were unable to prevent thea events.
“It makes me want to do something that can change it, or prevent something similar to happening in the future,” Boehm said.
Commemorations and speaking about the events aren’t only important to those attending, but also those being honored or who have lived through the events.
“I would want people to remember,” said WSU history senior Tim Kutz. “It’s a measure of pride. They lived through a lot and take pride in surviving these horrific events.”
Giving the Holocaust a vessel to remind people of its occurrence is important for those who want to know what really happened. Kutz said commemoration events will be like nothing WSU students have ever seen before or ever will see.
Boehm said that while hearing about these tragic events is depressing, it changes people and makes the attendees or anyone who learns about it want to be a better person.
Kutz also emphasized the importance of paying tribute.
“Survivors and soldiers from the Holocaust are almost all gone,” Kutz said. “If we don’t do things to reflect and carry their stories through history, we will forget too. The things that happened to those individuals are far too important to forget.”
April 12 will be Holocaust Commemoration Day. A list of events is available online at wsusignpost.com