Lincoln Survivors
The men and women who come to this podium to light a candle for the victims are a testament to the resilience of human beings. Sixty-one years ago, World War Two ended and they were among the remnants of the Jews of Europe who managed to survive the Holocuast. They were young adults – the only ones who had any chance of survival. Each has a story of incredible loss and suffering. They found their way to Nebraska, set about learning the language, the culture, had children, found work, formed friendships, and set about establishing themselves in a place they and their families had never heard of. Their example gives us all hope. I will tell you just a bit of their history as they come forward to light the candle of remembrance for all who perished in the Nazi Holocaust – Jews, 6 million –others composed of gypsies, trade unionists, homosexuals, handicapped, etc. – numbered 5 million.
“Those who do not remember the past
are condemned to relive it.”
-- George Santayana