US Secretary of Defense Visits Yad Vashem

12 April 2021

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visited Yad Vashem today, 12 April 2021. He was accompanied by Israel's Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Acting Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Ronen Plot. Following a tour of the "Flashes of Memory: Photography during the Holocaust" exhibition, Secretary Austin participated in a Memorial Ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, and signed the Yad Vashem Guest Book. Secretary Austin wrote the following in the Guest Book:

"It was a very moving experience to be able visit this honorable place. Thank you for allowing me to participate in the ceremony."

At the conclusion of the visit, Ronen Plot presented Secretary Austin with the Yad Vashem Menorah, a six-branched candelabra.

Secretary of Defense Austin added:

"I am truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the over six million innocent souls that perished in the worst mass atrocity of the 20th century. May their memory be a blessing and the lessons of the Holocaust never be forgotten."

 

Secretary Austin (center), accompanied by Acting Chairman Ronen Plot and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz was guided through the "Flashes of Memory" exhibition at Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem / Yossi Ben David

The Secretary of Defense laid a wreath on behalf of the people of the United States in memory of the six million victims of the Holocaust

Yad Vashem / Yossi Ben David

"Flashes of Memory: Photography During the Shoah" displays visual documentation by the German Nazis, Jews and Allied forces from the Holocaust period

Yad Vashem / Yossi Ben David

Secretary Austin rekindled the memorial flame in the Hall of Remembrance

Yad Vashem / Yossi Ben David

(L-R) Israel's Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, Secretary Defense Austin and Acting Yad Vashem Chairman Ronen Plot participating in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem / Yossi Ben David

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin together with American Society for Yad Vashem incoming Co-Chairs Adina Burian and Mark Moskowitz outside the Hall of Remembrance

Yad Vashem / Yossi Ben David