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JRI HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF JASENOVAC AT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY ON 21 APRIL 2002

On Sunday 21 April 2002 the Victims and Survivors of the Jasenovac Concentration Camp and the Yugoslav Holocaust were honored and remembered at a ceremony marking the 57th anniversary of the break-out of prisoners from the camp, which also led to the end of its operations as the third most deadly death camp during the Holocaust.

The ceremony, which included the laying of a wreath, a prayer service, the laying of a plaque, and speeches by numerous participants, was held at the The Holocaust Memorial Park in Brooklyn, NY from 2 to 3:30 PM. Among the speakers were Survivor Eva Costabel who recalled her experiences at the hands of Croatian Nazis during World War II and the murders of her father, family members and friends. Other honored guests included Dr. Milos M. Prica, Charge d'Affaires for the Bosnian Embassy to the United Nations and Mr. Vladislav Mladenovic, Deputy Ambassador of the Yugoslav Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Dr. Ephraim Isaac, a Professor of Semitic Studies at Princeton University and a Rabbi led a prayer for the victims.

Also in attendance from the United Nations was Ms. Audrey Kitagawa, an Advisor from the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

Among the honored guests were Mr. Ira Bilus and Mrs. Pauline Bilus, founders of the Holocaust Memorial Park and members of its organizing committee. Mrs. Bilus addressed the crowd and informed them of the future unveiling of a permanent stone monument in the coming months. The monument will be the first permanent monument commemorating Jasenovac in North America.

The ceremony was attended by numerous Directors of the JRI Board and was emceed by JRI Research Director Barry Lituchy who recounted the events of April 21st and 22nd when the prisoners planned and executed the break-out from the remaining camps at Jasenovac.

Lituchy told the audience that the prisoners knew that only a few of them would survive the attempted escape from Jasenovac. But even if only one survived, at least then one would live to inform the world about Jasenovac. "This is also why we are here today," said Lituchy, "to let the truth be known about Jasenovac."

The future stone monument is to be unveiled in the park later this year. The Holocaust Memorial Park is the only monument park commemorating the Holocaust in the New York City area. The Jasenovac Research Institute intends to hold annual commemorative ceremonies at this site and others around North America on this date.