To commemorate international Holocaust Memorial Day, Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor laid a wreath at the foot of Anne Frank's tree.
To commemorate International Holocaust Memorial Day, Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor and Chairman of Watford Borough Council Cllr Bilqees Mauthoor with representatives from Watford Synagogue, Liz Maykels and Carolyn Linton, laid a wreath at the foot of the Anne Frank tree outside Watford Central Library to join the community in marking this day.
Each year, communities around the world come together on Holocaust Memorial Day, to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and remember all of those who were killed in the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘One Day’ and the Holocaust Memorial Trust are encouraging people to explore
- One Day in history when everything changed
- How holocaust survivors kept their hope alive by looking forward to One Day in the future when things would be better
- How the One Day at a time approach has helped people suffering terrible experiences to survive
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said: “It is important we take this time, on this one day, to reflect and learn lessons from our past and the atrocities faced by persecuted communities. It is so important that on Holocaust Memorial Day we remember those who lost their lives because of hatred and intolerance. We will never forget these victims and those who are still needlessly losing their lives because of conflict, hate crimes and persecution.”
In Watford we also use this day as an opportunity to remember the key role that our town played in the ‘Kindertransport’ mission and the efforts of Watford resident Mrs. Kathleen Freeman OBE who gave up her home ‘”The Welcome House” for refugee children.
Chairman Cllr Bilqees Mauthoor said “To serve as a mark of respect and symbol for hope in the future, the Town Hall will also be lit up brightly in purple again this year. It will also serve as a beacon of hope for all individuals from all different communities, faith groups and to commemorate those who were lost.”
