A March of Remembrance Texas "Never Forget October 7" vigil was held at the Holocaust Garden
of Hope in Kingwood, Texas, on
October 6, 2024, commemorating the
Hamas terror attack that killed 1,400 people. The vigil, part of
the global March of Life movement, featured interfaith prayers and
a remembrance of those still held hostage.
KINGWOOD, Texas, Oct. 12,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- At exactly 10:29 PM on
Sunday October 6th, dozens gathered
at the Holocaust Garden of Hope in King's Harbor, Kingwood, Texas, to honor the memory of the
victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas
terror attack on Israel. This
solemn vigil marked the exact moment—6:29 AM Israel Daylight
Time—when the brutal attack, the worst pogrom against Jews since
the Holocaust, began. The massacre, which claimed the lives of over
1,400 people, shocked the world and has left a lasting impact on
Jewish communities globally.
In a profound act of unity, Dr. J.
Doug Stringer, Founder &
President of Somebody Cares, led community interfaith prayer for
the captives, Israel, the IDF, and
the United States Armed Forces.
Hamas's coordinated attack on October 7,
2023, targeted southern Israel with rocket barrages, shootings, and
abductions, primarily focusing on civilian communities. In total,
261 individuals were kidnapped and taken to Gaza, 97 of whom remain hostages in Hamas's
terror tunnels, including seven Americans. Three of these Americans
have been tragically murdered: Edan
Alexander, Itay Chen, and
Sagui Dekel-Chen. The others, Omer
Neutra, Keith Seigel, and
Judith and Gadi Haggai, are still held under inhumane
conditions.
The trauma of this modern-day atrocity has echoed the horrors of
past Jewish persecution, with many survivors and their families
recalling the Shoah's brutal legacy. Simultaneously, a global wave
of antisemitism has surged, with attacks on Jewish communities and
Israel intensifying. Yet, instead
of global solidarity with the victims, many international
institutions have reversed the narrative, accusing Israel, which is fighting for survival, of
committing genocide.
The vigil was an emotional event, beginning at 8:29 PM with the sound of three shofars, calling
attendees to stand in solidarity with Israel. Mitch and
Rozalie Jerome, founders of HRA18, opened the event,
followed by heartfelt speeches from Pastors Andrew Heard and Rodney
Sims of Inspire Church Houston and Houston City Council
Member Fred Flickinger. Music by Sheena
Lewis and an informative video produced by One with
Israel in partnership with the
Consulate General of Israel to the
Southwest offered moments of reflection and remembrance.
In a profound act of unity, Dr. J. Doug
Stringer, Founder & President of Somebody Cares, led
community interfaith prayer for the captives, Israel, the IDF, and the United States Armed
Forces. Participants also read aloud the names of 1,139 individuals
murdered or abducted, standing as a poignant reminder of the lives
lost and those still suffering. The gathering included people of
all ages, holding signs naming the destroyed Jewish communities,
ensuring the memory of these horrors will not fade.
The Kingwood vigil was part of
an international movement spearheaded by the March of Life, with
over 100 simultaneous events across 20 countries, including major
cities like Berlin, Warsaw, Lima,
and New York City, under the motto
"Never Forget October 7." A video
summary of these global events is available on the March of Life
YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@MarchofLife.
"October 7th has shown us that
when people believe lies, they are willing to go at great lengths
to defend their positions. We need to counter that with information
and truth. We also need to counter it with prayers." - from the
Holocaust Remembrance Association statement, "October 7, Then and Now" (click the link to
read), written by Holocaust Garden of Hope author Dr. Susanna Kokkonen.
About March of Life:
For 17 years, the March of Life movement has been mobilizing
tens of thousands of people worldwide to take to the streets with
the message "Remembrance -
Reconciliation - Taking a Stand for Israel and against Antisemitism.
www.marchoflife.org.
About Holocaust Remembrance Association (HRA18):
The Holocaust Remembrance Association includes the Holocaust
Garden of Hope, March of Remembrance Texas, Upstander Stones
Project and Scholarship opportunities. The website is
http://www.HRA18.org.
Media Contact
Rozalie Jerome, Holocaust
Remembrance Association, 1 (888) 546-8111, Admin@HRA18.org,
https://holocaustremembranceassociation.org/
Twitter, Facebook
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/march-of-remembrance-texas-never-forget-october-7-vigil-held-at-holocaust-garden-of-hope-kingwood-texas-marking-the-anniversary-of-hamas-terror-attack-on-israel-302273716.html
SOURCE Holocaust Remembrance Association