Holloman hosts Holocaust remembrance event Published May 5, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Rachel Kocin 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- On November 8, 1938 demonstrations began against German Jews, brought on by the murder of a German diplomat in Paris. Fanned by Nazi propaganda, a 48- hour period of state sanctioned anti-Semitic mob violence followed. In remembrance of that initial demonstration and the persecution of Jews that followed, Holloman Air Force Base hosted a remembrance event April 29 with the theme, "Do not stand silent." The event included lunch and a speech by Mr. Theodore Lehman, Holocaust survivor, and a remembrance walk from Desert Sands Club to the chapel. Mr. Lehman, currently an Alamogordo, N.M., resident, was born in 1927 in Poland. He is the only member of his family to enter the Auschwitz concentration camp and survive. "By the age of 14 I was forced to live and work in a Jewish Ghetto and began a long period of starvation," said Mr. Lehman. "When I was 16 years old, in August of 1943, the ghetto was liquidated, all the Jews, including my family, were sent off to the German concentration camp Auschwitz." During the lunch, Mr. Lehman answered questions and shared stories that ranged from times at Auschwitz to life in Alamogordo. "I am honored to be here, particularly at this location because it honors the gentiles and I would not be here if it weren't for the gentiles," said Mr. Lehman." They did favors for me which I can never forget and they did it at the risk of their own lives." The audience was glad to hear Mr. Lehman's story "We have a big responsibility as a people to never forget what happened," said Col. Peter Klement, German Air Force flying training center commander. "I am honored to be apart of this event." Preceding the ceremony there was dedication march from Desert Sands Club to the chapel. At the chapel, a plaque and tree was dedicated to "Those who did not stand silent."