The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan's (LHD 5) Heritage Committee sponsored a Days of Remembrance ceremony April 30, to close the ship's Holocaust Remembrance week.

The committee built a Star of David wreath and set up a memorial, including historical information, to bring awareness and honor all those who suffered during the Holocaust. The Sailors and Marines paid tribute by dropping off handmade flowers and cards throughout the week. The commemoration closed with a ceremony and military procession, where the wreath was taken from the mess decks and laid to rest in the ocean.

The Holocaust was a state-sponsored systematic annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. From 1933 to 1945, more than six million Jews were murdered but the travesty did not stop there. Soviet prisoners of war, gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, political dissidents, the physically and mentally disabled and homosexuals were also removed from their communities and suffered persecution under Nazi Germany. Though many lives were destroyed and family ties were lost, it is important to honor those who died unfairly as well as those who survived and lived to tell the tale.

Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) Hawa P. Riley, the heritage committee coordinator, believes it is important to remember this time in history.

"It is important that we understand that history still plays a role in military decisions today. We must remember the innocent lives lost before, during, and after World War II," said Riley. "The Holocaust went down in history as one of the worst human rights violation of all times."

Lt. j.g. Melanie Hafsadi, the combat information center officer aboard Bataan, participated in the ceremony. Hafsadi is Jewish and expressed how this memorial hits close to home.

"My family has been Jewish as far back as Judaism exists," said Hafsadi. "My dad was born and raised in Israel and lives there still with my half brother and sister. He is a Sephardic Jew and my mom is an Ashkenazi Jew."

Hafsadi shared that for her, the Holocaust Remembrance is significant because we need understand how and why the Holocaust happened in order to prevent something like this happening again in the future.

"Growing up, I learned about the Holocaust from school and my family," said Hafsadi. "When I was young and lived in Israel, I would hear the two-minute siren go off and everyone would stop what they were doing to have a moment of silence (in remembrance); even cars would stop and the passengers would get out."

The Commanding Officer of Bataan, Capt. Eric Pfister, also shared some thoughts during the ceremony. He invited us to look back and remember that fear and indifference can lead to hatred and creates and opportunity for evil to thrive.

"This is our opportunity to reflect on the impact of the Holocaust," said Pfister. "We will reflect on the loss of these victims as well as the moral responsibilities of individuals, societies and government to remain vigilant against hatred, persecution and oppression."

Pfister went on to ask all Sailors and Marines to take a stand if they see someone suffering; say something and remember the powerful effect of holding out a helping hand or even a positive comment can have on another person.

In 1980, Congress established the United States annual commemoration of the Holocaust known as the Days of Remembrance, which runs from April 23-30, to include Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) on April 24.

In closing Hasfsadi stated, "Israel is strong now, but we must not forget the problems of the past. The children that came out of the Holocaust have taught us the importance of taking care of each other for prevention of future genocides."

Bataan and its ready group are currently deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners, and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.

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