Second annual Holocaust memorial service a success despite weather

BASS RIVER – Over 130 people braved the strong winds Sunday evening (April 11) to pay their respects to the nearly six million Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust at the Veterans Memorial Park in Bass River.
The turnout, which included teens and young families to public representatives and veterans, was a marked improvement over the 75 people who attended the inaugural Holocaust Remembrance service last year.
Event organizer and treasurer of the park Rilla MacDougall hopes the numbers continue to grow in the future.
“The fellowship was wonderful,” said MacDougall. “It was a cold, windy evening but that was a small price to pay for people to attend.”
Colchester North MLA Karen Casey was impressed with the strong showing for the event.
“I think it speaks well for the folks along the shore that they show their support when those events are planned,” said Casey. “It was a very somber event. A lot of history was shared with the participants.
“This was an atrocity. It was something that shook the world at the time,” said Casey. “I think Canadians who participated in stopping that movement are to be commended.”
A wide variety of community representatives were on hand including Geri Mendelson, a representative of the Jewish people, who read the Kaddish, or ‘Prayer for the Dead’ in Hebrew.
Members from the Red Cross, The Royal Canadian Legion were in attendance along with Elder Knockwod of the native community and county councilor Tom Taggart.