SPRINGFIELD, PA – U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today announced he has been appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council by Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH-08).  Congressman Meehan is one of five Members of the House of Representatives to be appointed.

“I am deeply honored to be named to the Holocaust Memorial Council,” said Congressman Meehan.  “The Holocaust Memorial Museum is a remarkable tribute that honors the memory of the lives lost and the suffering endured during the Holocaust. The Museum also educates millions of visitors each year about the history of the events surrounding the Holocaust. I am proud to be part of this incredibly important endeavor.”

“Congressman Meehan is a great addition to this distinguished council,” said Speaker Boehner.  “He understands the significance of bringing the lessons of the Holocaust to a global audience, and shares a commitment to memorializing the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust. I look forward to his participation in the council.”

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.  Opened on April 26, 1993, the Museum is a public-private partnership established by Congress with the mission to advance and disseminate knowledge about the Holocaust, preserve the memory of those who suffered, and encourage reflection upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by those events.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council includes 55 private citizens appointed by the President, five members of the Senate, five members of the House of Representatives, and three ex-officio members from the Departments of State, Education, and Interior.

Holocaust Remembrance Day will be observed in the United States and Israel on Sunday, May 1, 2011, the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.  The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum will lead the nation in a week-long series of events commemorating the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, as well as the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution, with observances being held in Washington and around the country.

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