HOW APPROPRIATE THAT WE GATHER TOGETHER
on this 57th anniversary of D-Day to memorialize the
victims of the Holocaust and to honor its survivors
and liberators. Through this magnificent new monu-
ment, the Columbia community can truly say,
We Remember.
For 16 years, members of this community actively discussed the need to have a Holocaust monument in Columbia. Last year those talks of a monument became a focused project, as many individuals and groups came together, formed a committee, and brought forth a concerted effort to make the hope of a monument a reality. These committee members have given tirelessly of their hearts and souls during the Last 12 months.
Among our first priorities was the appointment of a subcommittee to develop a design that would memorialize the Holocaust victims, honor the South Carolina survivors and liberators, and create an educational monument that would teach and remind all South Carolinians about this dark period in our history. Working with the incredibly talented designer/artist Irwin Hyman, 1 believe we have accomplished these important goals.
This monument was made possible by the generosity and creativity of so many people and organizations. A donation from the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust, whose cornmitment to Holocaust recognition and education is unmistakable, gave us the exhilarating boost we needed to get the project started. Members of both the Jewish and the non-jewish communities were also decisively supportive.
Our partners in this project - the City of Columbia, Fort Jackson, and the University of South Carolina - offered their own unique contributions to this dedication. Mayor Coble and City Council unanimously approved our design and placement choice. Major General Barrett and Fort Jackson stepped forward unhesitatingly to become an integral part of this event. Dr. Palms and the University of South Carolina are the hosts of a special Holocaust exhibit and a lecture program at South Caroliniana Library. Thanks to the commitment and unwavering support of these partners, our dedication has truly become a community event.
To remember means to know. To know means to teach others. To teach others means to
never forget. Let us honor all of those who experienced one of our history's worst examples
of inhumanity. Let their actions, their sufferings, and their deaths be a lesson to us all.
TELL THEM WE REMEMBER.
Dr. Lilly Stern Filler
Chair, Holocaust Memorial Committee
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