Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 22

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 22-Assemblymen Giunchigliani, Dini, Amodei, Anderson, Arberry, Bache, Berman, Braunlin, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Close, Collins, de Braga, Ernaut, Evans, Freeman, Goldwater, Gustavson, Herrera, Hettrick, Hickey, Humke, Koivisto, Krenzer, Lambert, Lee, Manendo, Marvel, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Ohrenschall, Parks, Perkins, Price, Sandoval, Segerblom, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

May 8, 1997
____________

Read and adopted

SUMMARY--Recognizes May 8 as Day of Remembrance for Victims of Holocaust

and commends Irene Gut Opdyke for her bravery during those years.

(BDR R-1632)

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION--Recognizing May 8 as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust and commending Irene Gut Opdyke for her bravery during those years.

Whereas, Two-thirds of the Jewish population of Europe were exterminated during World War II and countless other civilians were subjected to brutal anti-Semitic atrocities solely because they were members of a particular faith; and
Whereas, In this present time of racial and religious disharmony, it is particularly important to remember the Holocaust and its effects; and
Whereas, Few Europeans lived without terror during World War II, including Irene Gut Opdyke, an 18-year-old Polish nursing student of the Catholic faith who lived in Poland and witnessed the persecution and murder of Jews, while she herself was forced to endure vicious attacks, severe beatings and total humiliation at the hands of enemy soldiers; and
Whereas, Despite her fear, Irene Gut Opdyke willingly risked her own life to save at least 12 Jews by hiding them for 8 months in the basement of a German-occupied Ukrainian villa where she worked as a housekeeper for a Nazi officer; and
Whereas, Irene Gut Opdyke has earned international recognition through the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous and received from Yad Vashem, the most distinguished authority on the Holocaust in Israel, the Medal of Righteousness, an honor awarded to Gentiles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust; and
Whereas, Out of respect for and to ensure remembrance of those who suffered or were killed, Irene Gut Opdyke wrote Into the Flames, The Life Story of a Righteous Gentile, an eyewitness account of the Holocaust; and
Whereas, On May 8, our Nation's Capital will observe Yom Hashoah, a memorial day that commemorates the loss of 6 million Jews and countless others because of the Nazi war machine of World War II; and
Whereas, On this day, throughout the world, such remembrance ceremonies are held as a lasting tribute to those who perished, and in Israel, a country created as a haven for the survivors of the Holocaust, the entire nation pauses for 2 minutes to honor and remember those who were murdered; and
Whereas, Because the Holocaust stands as one of the worst acts of genocide the world has ever seen, deliberately and systematically attempting to destroy an ethnic, religious and cultural group, it must be remembered; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate Concurring, That the members of the 69th Session of the Nevada Legislature do hereby recognize May 8 as Yom Hashoah, a Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust; and be it further
Resolved, That members of the Nevada Legislature honor and commend Irene Gut Opdyke for her bravery during the Holocaust and for her decision to record for posterity her experiences to enable others to know that one person can truly make a difference and to know the collective power of humanity to prevail against injustice; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to Irene Gut Opdyke.