13 February 2015
Keeping the memory alive for Holocaust Memorial Day 2015
The National Holocaust Memorial Day event in Ayr Town Hall on 27th January 2015 featured moving musical performances, and presentations from school pupils who recently visited Auschwitz.
The First Minister joined survivors of the Holocaust and Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia, who shared their very personal and emotional experiences, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2015. The event also marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Ela Weissberger was one of 100 children (out of 15,000) who survived the Terezin concentration camp. She spoke of her experiences of being a child in a concentration camp and joined local school pupils to perform excerpts from Brundibar Children’s Opera, which Ela and other children performed in the concentration camps.
The First Minister also met Hasan Hasanovic who survived the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia. Hasan was one of only 3,500 men who survived a gruelling march from Srebrenica to Tuzla to avoid the massacre by Bosnian Serb forces.
All pictures Copyright South Ayrshire Council @ Flickr