The City of Alexandria announced on Mar. 31 that it will observe the Days of Remembrance for victims of the Holocaust at noon on Tuesday, April 14, in the Frank and Betty Wright Reading Gardens at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library.
The event is part of a national weeklong commemoration observed from April 12 through April 19 and marks the city’s thirty-seventh annual ceremony honoring those who perished during the Holocaust. The ceremony is free and open to all members of the public.
Elizabeth “Barry” White, Ph.D., will serve as this year’s speaker. Dr. White recently retired from her role as historian and Research Director for the Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She previously worked at the U.S. Department of Justice investigating Nazi criminals and other human rights violators.
During the ceremony, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council members will light a candelabrum donated by late Holocaust survivor Charlene Schiff and her husband Ed in memory of Schiff’s family members lost in the Holocaust as well as millions who perished during that time. The candelabrum is also made available to schools and civic groups studying this period.
Alexandria’s museums and historic sites contribute to community identity by interpreting local social and cultural history, according to its official website. The city also maintains institutions such as the Alexandria Black History Museum that document African American heritage as noted online. Efforts are made to incorporate racial and social equity into city policies to promote fair outcomes according to official information.
The city operates under a council-manager government structure where City Council selects a manager responsible for operations as described on its website. Alexandria provides services within its defined boundaries as an independent city according to official sources, while agencies like the Alexandria Archaeological Commission work with partners on research and preservation efforts as reported online.
For more information about Alexandria’s Days of Remembrance ceremony or disability accommodations, residents can contact relevant departments via phone or email provided by city officials.
