Holocaust Boxcar brings history to Lee Campus
Mar 19, 2009
Boxcar open for public viewing March 16 - March 20
History comes to life at Edison State College as students and the community have the opportunity to experience first-hand an authentic Holocaust-era boxcar, a symbol of the atrocities of the Nazi Regime during World War II which resulted in the death of more than 11 million European Jews and others deemed “undesirable” by the state.
Boxcars were used regularly by the Nazi’s in World War II to move 70 to more than 120 people at a time, most of them Jews, under inhumane conditions without food, water or hygiene accommodations, to death camps, where millions perished.
The boxcar exhibit leads in to the 13th annual Dr. Talbot Spivak Holocaust Memorial Week, March 23-27, on the Lee Campus. This year’s theme, “The Aftermath,” is focused not only on the atrocities of the Holocaust and the need for younger generations to remember the lessons of that event, but also shines a light on genocide as it still exists in numerous countries around the world.
“Holocaust Week is one of the most memorable weeks on campus,” says second year Edison State student Jenna Kelly. “It’s so important we understand what happened during the Holocaust and the boxcar really helps bring it to life.” Kelly is one of many student volunteers who will be working at the boxcar throughout the week and sharing the importance of understanding the role we each play in making sure the Holocaust never happens again.
Throughout Holocaust Memorial Week there will be numerous lectures by Edison State faculty and guest speakers; discussions led by Holocaust survivors; book discussions; films, musicals and dramatic presentations; student presentations and the emotional reading of Holocaust victims’ names in classes throughout the College.
A detailed list of activities, dates and times is available at www.edison.edu/holocaust. All events are free and open to the public.
The Boxcar Built in 1919, the boxcar was in use by the German Railway System during the 1930s and 40s. The boxcar was acquired by the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida in 2006 and is now used extensively as a unique travelling educational exhibit. The boxcar weighs one ton and is 10 feet by 30 feet. Informational posters surround the boxcar with information on the Holocaust, as well as genocides that have occurred since that time, and continue today. For more information on the boxcar visit: www.hmswfl.org.
Boxcar exhibit hours are:
Monday through Thursday, March 16-March 19: 11:00AM - 1:00PM and 4:00PM - 6:00PM.
Friday, March 20: 11:00AM - 1:00PM
The boxcar is located on the Edison State College Lee Campus campus at 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers, in Parking lot # 3. Access is via the College Parkway entrance on to the campus.
Edison State College serves more than 20,000 students in five counties through campuses in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties, a center in Hendry and Glades counties and on-line. For more information, please contact the Lee Campus Public Information Office, Pamela Nulman, APR , at 239.489.9207, or via email: pnulman@edison.edu.
Last Updated: March 19, 2009
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