Alexandrians Honor Holocaust Survivors and Their Legacies at Remembrance Day Ceremony

Alexandrians and others turned out Tuesday afternoon to pay their respects to victims of the Holocaust, but also honor their legacies during the Days of Remembrance ceremony hosted by the City of Alexandria.

Bryan Spoon, an aide to U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), said it's a time to reflect on genocide of the past, but also current genocide such as that going on in Sudan. Moran, who initiated the city event 25 years ago, was unable to attend although has spoke in past years.

The issue of ongoing genocide and society's responsibility to address it was also brought up in speeches by an eighth-grader from Gesher Jewish Day School, Rabbi Brett Isserow of Beth El Hebrew Congregation and Austrian Ambassador Hans Peter Manz.

Rabbi Isserow said to the crowd gathered in Market Square outside of that it's important to pass on the memories of Holocaust survivors as there aren't many left.

Manz said that while the veneer of civilization "can be quite thin," communities should consider the many accomplishments of the families of the small number of Holocaust survivors and how their legacies continue.