Observing Holocaust Remembrance Day

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the memory of those who were murdered during the Holocaust.

The Holocaust was the systematic, government-sponsored persecution and murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

We honor the resilience of survivors, and we rededicate ourselves to uphold the promise of ``Never Again.''

This week marks the Days of Remembrance for the Holocaust. Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the Nation's annual commemoration. Each year, State and local governments, military bases, workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host observances and remembrance activities for their communities.

These events occur during the Week of Remembrance, which began Sunday, April 8, and runs through Sunday, April 15.

The events and results of the Holocaust were so devastating and so extreme that we can barely imagine how such a horrendous event can even take place.

But we remember because it is an unthinkable scar on humanity. We not only remember, but, more importantly, we say: Never again.

Today, we mourn the lives of those we lost, and we celebrate those who saved them, and we honor those who survived.

The Holocaust was a tremendous blight on the history of humanity, but also a time when we honor those who were brave enough to put an end to it; those who stood in the face of such evil and refused to turn a blind eye.

Our American soldiers were fighting to win World War II and liberated concentration camps and the horror that ensued there. It was an incredible task carried out by members of the Greatest Generation.

By looking back, we can understand how important it is to defend those who are defenseless. We recognize the sufferings that took place and the lives that were shattered, but also the efforts that were made to put an end to such destruction and suffering.

We have seen such hatred and genocide occur again in places like Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, and Syria. There are still millions of people being persecuted because of their ethnicity, because of who they are.

We must eradicate hatred and never become indifferent to the sufferings of others. On the Day of Remembrance, the most important thing to remember is the humanity that exists in all of us. May we always remember and always pledge: Never again.

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