City of Alexandria Observes Days of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust on Tuesday, April 17

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:

City of Alexandria Observes Days of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust on Tuesday, April 17

News Highlights 

The event marks Alexandria’s 25th annual commemoration of the Days of Remembrance
This year’s ceremony speaker is Hans Peter Manz, current Ambassador of Austria to the United States
More Information

alexandriava.gov/Recreation 
The City of Alexandria will observe the Days of Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, for the victims of the Holocaust at noon on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Market Square, 301 King Street. The Alexandria City Council hosts the annual ceremony as part of the weeklong commemoration of the national Days of Remembrance, Sunday, April 15, through Sunday, April 22. This is the 25th consecutive year that the City has held the Days of Remembrance ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Vola Lawson Lobby on the first floor of City Hall, 301 King St. (on the Cameron St. side of the building). 

The guest speaker for the ceremony will be Hans Peter Manz, current Ambassador of Austria to the United States. Ambassador Manz has represented Austria in the United States since December 2011. He arrived in Washington D.C. having served as Austrian Ambassador to Switzerland for more than four years.

During the ceremony, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille and City Council members will light a candelabrum that Holocaust survivor Charlene Schiff and her husband, Ed, donated to the City. The 54-inch high solid brass candelabrum was given to the City in memory of Charlene Schiff’s parents, sister, and the six million Jews and millions of others who perished in the Holocaust.

The Schiff candelabrum, under the care of the City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, is made available to schools and civic groups studying the Holocaust and to the City’s annual observance of the Days of Remembrance.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in accordance with its Congressional mandate (Public Law 96-388, 10/7/80), is leading the nation in the weeklong Days of Remembrance commemoration.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Maureen Sturgill at 703.746.5420 (Virginia Relay 711) or e-mail maureen.sturgill@alexandriava.gov.

For additional information on Alexandria’s Days of Remembrance ceremony, call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.4343.