YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNEWS) --
The Constitution protects American citizens' rights to worship as they choose by allowing the "free exercise thereof," but history shows citizens of other countries have not been as fortunate. Yokota Air Base residents exercised "the right of the people peaceably to assemble" at a memorial service April 20 to remember one of the most infamous display of crimes against humanity -- the Holocaust.
"The theme for this year's committee is, 'Remembering the past for a better future,'" said Staff Sgt. Donald Lyons, co-chairperson for the ceremony.
"When we look at history, we sometimes forget, thinking it's just a history lesson. But it is real," Sergeant Lyons said.
Students from Yokota High School gave voices to some of the Holocaust victims, reading some of their quotes, which reminded the guests of what the Holocaust really was.
"It's not a subject touched on much at schools, at least not for my age," said Alyssa Gutierrez, one of the high school students/performers. "If we don't refresh it, people aren't going to remember it. So having the details refreshed makes them realize this really happened."
For some of the volunteers, just doing their part in putting the ceremony together was an emotional experience.
"As a medic, I've seen death before," said Airman 1st Class Marshall Bridges, the event's master of ceremonies. "That doesn't really bother me, but those pictures bothered me because they depict death in not a great manner."
While the Holocaust is a very unnerving part of mankind's past, remembrance ceremonies can provide important lessons as to what happens when people fail to stand up to violence or hate.
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