Long Beach Holocaust Memorial Monument facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°35′21″N 73°39′59″W / 40.589138°N 73.666464°W |
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| Location | Kennedy Plaza at the Long Beach City Hall, Long Beach, Nassau County, New York |
| Type | Public Holocaust memorial |
| Material | Black granite |
| Dedicated to | the six million Jews who were victims of Nazi persecution and the non-Jews who tried to save them |
The Long Beach Holocaust Memorial Monument is a special place in Long Beach, New York. It stands in Kennedy Plaza, near the City Hall. This monument was created to remember the six million Jewish people who were killed during the Holocaust by the Nazis. It also honors the brave non-Jewish people who risked their lives to help save them. The monument was officially opened on June 7, 1987.
Contents
History of the Monument
The idea for this monument came from Dr. Stanley Robbin and architect Monte Scott Leeper. Dr. Robbin was a Holocaust survivor. He was one of the "Schindlerjuden", meaning he was saved by Oskar Schindler during World War II. Dr. Robbin was also the chairman and founder of the Long Island Holocaust Memorial Commission.
Dr. Robbin started working on the monument idea in 1982. Five years later, on June 7, 1987, the monument was officially dedicated. About 250 people attended the ceremony. Important leaders from New York were there, including Senator Al D'Amato and Lieutenant Governor Stan Lundine.
After it was unveiled, the monument became known around the world. An Austrian Broadcasting Corporation’s documentary was even made about it. Before this monument was built, a different sculpture called "Homage to Noguchi" stood in its place. This steel sculpture was moved to the Nassau County Museum of Art.
Monument Design and Meaning
The monument is 12 feet tall. It is made of shiny black granite and shaped like an upside-down pyramid. This pyramid sits on a three-sided base. This base is also set on an even larger three-sided base with plants around it. Three triangular benches surround the monument.
The inverted pyramid and its base have special pictures and words etched into their sides. These etchings tell important stories.
Stories on the Pyramid
One side of the pyramid shows Janusz Korczak. He was a kind doctor who cared for Jewish orphans in the Warsaw Ghetto. The etching shows him leading these children to their deaths at the Treblinka extermination camp. A Nazi SS guard is in the background. Korczak is shown holding a young child, with other children around him.
Below this panel, the words say: "To the sacred and Eternal Memory of the Million Jewish Children; who perished in the Holocaust".
Another side of the pyramid shows a Burning bush with barbed wire across the fire. This image reminds us of the terrible Extermination camps.
The words below this panel say: "The Burning Bush which was not consumed".
The third side of the pyramid lists the names of three heroes: Raoul Wallenberg, Oskar Schindler, and Maximillian Kolbe. These people were not Jewish, but they bravely saved many Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
The words below this panel say: "Their Brother Keepers".
Plaques on the Base
The lower base of the monument has five plaques. These plaques explain how the monument was built and who helped.
- One plaque thanks Dr. NATAN CELNIK for his generous help. He gave money in memory of his wife, Ursula.
- Another plaque lists the members of the HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL COMMITTEE of LONG ISLAND. This committee proposed and built the monument. Dr. Stanley R. Robbin was the chairman and founder.
- A third plaque thanks the officials of the City of Long Beach for their support.
- The fourth plaque states that architect Monte Leeper created the monument's design and structure.
- The fifth plaque explains that Dr. Stanley R. Robbin designed the white etchings and inscriptions on the black granite.
Restoration of the Monument
Over the years, the monument showed signs of wear and tear. It was also damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Because of this, the monument needed to be fixed. A two-year restoration project was completed in June 2016.
Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and the General Restoration Associates largely paid for the repairs. Thanks to their efforts, the monument continues to stand as a powerful reminder for future generations.
