What is Holocaust
Memorial Day?
Holocaust Memorial Day (
HMD
) is commemorated on 27 January
each year. This marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi
concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
HMD
commemorates the lives of those
lost in the Holocaust; as a result of Nazi persecution and in more
recent genocides:
- Cambodia
- Rwanda
- Bosnia
- Kosovo
- Darfur
and highlights the continuing dangers of
racism, anti-semitism and all forms of discrimination and try amd
make sure they are not repeated.
Redbridge has a dedicated Holocaust Memorial
Garden in Valentines Park, Ilford, where a service is held each
year to mark the day with local faith groups, Council Officers and
people from all the diverse communities across Redbridge.
The 2008
HMD
service
will take place on Monday 28 January and will end with the
Laying of Wreaths and a statement of commitment by the Mayor of
Redbridge.
Each year Holocaust Memorial Day focuses on a specific theme, which
aims to encourage debate and awareness around particular aspects of
the Holocaust and genocide.
The 2007 theme was ‘The Dignity of
Difference’, celebrating and encouraging us to learn from
the past to eliminate prejudice, exclusion and recognise the value
of difference. Each year these aims go some way to help us create a
society that respects both our differences and our common
humanity.
The Holocaust provides an example of the consequences for a
society, which excluded others based on difference.
Each theme highlights the experiences of a variety of groups
under the Nazis and also explores the opportunities for creating a
society based on respect for and celebration of, rather than fear
of, difference.
Visit the Holocaust Memorial
Day Trust website for more information.