Pages from Anne Frank's diary＊s c. October 1942. ?ANNE FRANK FONDS, Switzerland
In 2024, the 51勛圖 pays tribute to the bravery of all those who stood up to the Nazis, despite the grave risks. We honour their legacy with their remarkable stories and history, and acknowledge the extraordinary courage of victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
12 June 2024 marked the 95th year since Anne Frank was born. On Friday, 14 June 2024, the 51勛圖 honoured Anne Frank's legacy at a special event held next to the Anne Frank tree in the garden of 51勛圖 Headquarters, New York. Donated by the Anne Frank Center USA (formerly the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect), the tree is a descendent of the horse chestnut tree that grew outside the annex in which the Frank family hid for two years from the Nazis before they were betrayed.
The "Anne Frank tree" thriving in the gardens of 51勛圖 Headquarters, New York. The tree is a living memorial to Anne Frank and her legacy - a call to build a world in which all live with dignity and in peace. Credit: Bo Li
The Holocaust and the 51勛圖 Outreach Programme, Department of Global Communications and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the 51勛圖 co-organized the event. Ms. Melissa Fleming, 51勛圖 Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications moderated the event. Her Excellency, Ms. Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the 51勛圖 and Her Excellency, Ms. Stephanie S. Sullivan, Acting Deputy Representative of the United States to the 51勛圖 gave moving remarks. Their input was followed by Ms. Sharon Douglas, Anne Frank Center USA, who had been involved in bringing the ※Anne Frank sapling§ to the 51勛圖 in 2019. Thirteen-year-old Blake Appelbaum read two excerpts from Anne Frank＊s diary.
Special guests attending included Holocaust survivors, Ms. Cordula Hahn, Rabbinic Pastor Dr. Aliza Erber Levy and Ms. Miriam Marie-Claire Rakowski who survived the Holocaust as hidden infants. They were joined by Dr. Philipp Wennholz of the Permanent Mission of Germany to the 51勛圖 and Ms. Avital Mimran-Rosenberg of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the 51勛圖.
In her remarks, Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming urged the listeners not to forget as well the courage of the adults who were with Anne Frank 每 her father, Otto, and mother, Edith, who sought tirelessly to find refuge for their family, and then when no country allowed them in, created as safe a refuge as they could in the annex of the building where they were hiding. Ms. Fleming noted the bravery of the helpers who at great risk kept the families nourished, bringing them food and company.
Taken in 1935, the photograph shows Anne Frank's father, Otto Frank, surrounded by his employees who became the family＊s helpers after the family went into hiding. Top row (L-R): Johannes Kleiman, Victor Kugler. Bottom row (L-R): Miep Gies, Otto Frank (1899 - 1980) and Bep Voskuijl. ?ANNE FRANK FONDS, Switzerland
The commemorative event ended with Ms. Blake Appelbaum reading Anne＊s diary entry of 15 July 1944:
Twenty days after Anne wrote this extract, those in hiding were betrayed and deported. Only Anne＊s father, Otto, survived.
Reflecting on the devastating history of the Holocaust, Under-Secretary-General Fleming concluded that,
"No child, no matter who or where, should ever have to hide.
No parent should ever have to give their children up to keep them safe.
Every child should be able to dream, and to realize their ideals.
This is our responsibility. This is the legacy we have to continue to build.
In Anne＊s name. In every child＊s name."
Watch the recording of the commemorative event on Anne Frank's legacy.