Salisbury people urged to join Holocaust Memorial Day reflections
An event's being held at the Guildhall today (27th January)
The city of Salisbury will mark Holocaust Memorial Day today (Saturday 27th January) by joining the local community with people from families with lived history of the Holocaust.
During World War II, around 6 million Jewish people were killed by the Nazi regime across Europe.
Salisbury will remember the genocide with an important event, which includes poems from a trio of local writers, which have been selected from submissions on the theme "The Fragility of Freedom".
Two poems from the 18+ category have been chosen, written by Cassandra Hill and Alison Bailey respectively, while Grace Vickers from South Wilts Grammar School, had her entry from the 11-17 category selected, which can be read at the bottom of the page.
We're invited to join Councillors, faith leaders, students and local historians at Salisbury Guildhall from 10.00am this morning to take part in remembering and reflecting on the impacts of genocide across generations and borders.
All attendees of the event will be invited by the City Council to sign a memorial book, which will be opened annually on Holocaust Memorial Day.
The book will be open for the public to sign after the event from 1.00pm – 5.00pm on Saturday 27th January.
Join the mission for a better future
Grace Vickers selected poem has been shared by Salisbury City Council to help those of us unable to attend to reflect on the themes and ideas of Holocaust Memorial Day, and to join the mission: "Learn from Genocide - for a better future".
When we think back to the Holocaust,
We remember all the pain it caused,
The people that died,
The families that cried,
Many living in fear for not having blue eyes,
Why can this one man decide?
Gas chamber or slavery?
Live or die?
Even after they were finally set free,
Innocent people suffered from PTSD,
Constantly reminded of those men,
Terribly traumatised from what happened back then,
Even if you think you aren’t in danger,
One person can come along and everything changes.