Worthing commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day 2013

2013 Theme: Communities Together – Build a Bridge  

Residents in Worthing are invited this coming weekend to commemorate the national Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.

The commemoration will take place on Sunday 27^th also around the Tree of Life planted some years ago in the south end of Beach House Park. The programme offers readings, prayers including the Jewish prayer for the dead – the Kaddish and some words from the local Imam, testimonials and laying a wreath. Afterwards the organiser, Worthing councillor Tom Wye, will invite people to write their own message to tie onto the tree of life.

Former Major, Tom Wye MBE DL, witnessed first-hand the terrible consequences of genocide whilst on military duty in Bosnia and Rwanda, and says on behalf of The Adur and Worthing: “We ask you all to imagine waking up to find that the neighbours you have known all your life and even sat next to at school, now walk past you without stopping, now forbid their children from playing with yours, now spit at you and even attack you.

Imagine having nowhere to turn, that walls are closing in and there is no escape. What would you do if you had done nothing wrong, yet you are to be punished nonetheless and no one will stand by you?”

On Holocaust Memorial Day Worthing council ask you all to note the theme for this year commemoration – Building Bridges in our communities, and remember and stand by those who were forced to live through these experiences. We want you to honour those communities which were destroyed in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

All welcome

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website www.hmd.org.uk.

The first UK Holocaust Memorial Day was in 2001