SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Schriever Airmen will have the opportunity to participate in a Days of Remembrance ceremony at the fitness center, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, August 16, to recognize Holocaust survivors and the than six million European Jews and 11 million killed during the Holocaust.
Staff Sgt. Jeffery Davis, 50th Network Operations Group unit deployment manager and event coordinator, said Days of Remembrance will educate, enhance awareness and promote harmony among all attendees.
“This is a great event to remember a time in our history where we as a nation fought for what is good, not just for a people but for our world,” he said. “Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes.”
Although Days of Remembrance is observed in April or May, Schriever AFB hosts the event in August in conjunction with Diversity Day to maximize the education opportunity.
First Lt. Oxford Hanson, 2nd Space Operations Squadron mission analyst and event coordinator, said the event serves not only as a reminder of the Holocaust horrors, but also education of and a tribute to the greatest generation that persevered through hardship and monstrosities.
“The mission statement of the Colorado Holocaust Educators sums it up best: ‘We aspire to increase awareness of the tragedy of the Holocaust, enliven empathetic engagement, and encourage specific action through responsible democratic citizenship’,” Oxford said.
Currently, the event is set to start at the Fitness Center at 10 a.m., transitioning between the indoor running track, one mile trail and fitness center. Davis said the Days of Remembrance committee is still in need of volunteers.
“There will be set up and tear down of the normal fitness center set up, trail preparations, display set up/tear down and food distribution,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the day’s events and I hope everyone will come out to join us.”
Davis said the ceremony will have static displays around the indoor running track for people to view.
“We are going to have some great reenactors out here telling the tales of different survivors,” he said. “We will be offering samples of kosher foods for people to try and an amazing guest speaker, Todd Hennessay.”
According to Davis, Hennessay will speak with Schriever Airmen for the first time and is currently the director and an educator with the Colorado Holocaust Educators, an internationally recognized Holocaust educational institute.
“In addition to Mr. Hennessay speaking, we will also have a trail activity where participants are paired with different Holocaust survivors from the past and learn their tales by story boards and reenactors,” he said.
To volunteer, contact Davis at 560-3007 or Staff Sgt. Paige Sechi at 560-2412.