On Friday, January 27, 2006, the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum observed the first "International
Holocaust Remembrance Day." Ambassador András Simonyi, joined by the
Ambassadors of Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Poland and
Romania, took part in the "Moment of Silence" event held at noon
in the Museum's Hall of Remembrance.
The United Nations General Assembly
designated January 27 as the annual "International Day of
Commemoration" to honor the victims of the Holocaust by official
resolution on November 1, 2005.
The Museum's Associate Director, Alice
Greenwald spoke about the significance of celebrating such a day. Martin
Weiss, a Holocaust survivor and a volunteer of the Museum, shared some of
his feelings and experiences, and asked the participants to join him in a
moment of silence.
The Ambassadors, the Holocaust survivors
present and other guests closed the event by lighting candles in memory of
those lost during the Holocaust.
