MacDill remembers the Holocaust; hosts two survivors

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Vernon L. Fowler Jr.
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  It is not an everyday occurrence that people come into contact with survivors from one of the largest genocides in the world's history.

MacDill received this privilege when it hosted two holocaust survivors at the 2014 Holocaust Day of Remembrance "Confronting the Holocaust: American Responses" event on April 28, 2014.

The two survivors, Gary Silvers and Sally Riba, attended the event as the guests of honor. Silvers, a Georgetown University graduate, was also there to share his story and experiences as the guest speaker.

"It is of extreme importance that we as a military community recognize Mr. Gary Silvers and Ms. Sally Riba during our Day of Remembrance ceremony," said Maj. William Brown 6th Air Mobility Wing chaplain. "Their lives and stories are a living testament that consistently inspires us to, in the words of Estelle Laughlin, Holocaust Survivor, 'illuminate the future.'"

Rabbi Richard Birnholz, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Schaarai Zedek, presided over the event's invocation, candle lighting and readings.

During the event, Silvers, Riba, descendants and family members of genocide survivors and refugees were invited to light candles in front of everyone in attendance.

"We light the candles to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Birnholz.

Rabbi Birnholz then proceeded to read in Hebrew and English the El Molei Rachamim prayer, asking God's compassion upon those who have died, and the Kaddish prayer.

Following the readings, Silvers shared his experiences as a child traveling from Germany with his family to take refuge in Shanghai, China.

Silvers then concluded his presentation with three final points for the audience before receiving a coin from Col. Andre Briere, 6th Air Mobility Wing vice commander.

"First, your life is the most valuable thing you have; second, education is more important than anything else," said Silvers. "And lastly, all of you without any exception are the luckiest people in the world...why? Because you're Americans!"