2009 Weekend to Honor Fallen Soldiers Originally Scheduled During Rosh Hashanah

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel joined with 27 of his Congressional colleagues earlier this week urging the White House Commission on Remembrance and Families United for our Troops and their Mission to move the 2009 National Weekend of Remembrance away from the September 18-19 date. By moving away from that date, Jewish Gold Star families may attend. Thankfully, the date was altered as a direct result of Engel and his colleagues’ intervention.

The event was planned to occur at the same time as the Jewish High Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah. By having the event the same weekend, it would have prevented Jewish families from attending and kept their fallen loved ones from being properly honored.

“It would have been very disappointing, if not offensive, if this event went forward without the participation of Jewish families. Jewish members of the Armed Forces have fought bravely for our nation and too many have perished in the line of duty. Their families deserve the opportunity to grieve their loss and remember fallen servicemembers together. Jewish heroes deserve the same recognition as everyone else, and I am glad the organizers saw the light and did not force families to choose between honoring their loved ones’ memory and observing their faith,” said Rep. Engel.

The letter states that the U.S. military, and the nation as a whole, has always “prided itself on religious pluralism and tolerance.” Rep. Engel added, “These are the most solemn and hallowed days of the Hebrew calendar and mark the beginning of the new year. Jewish people reassess their lives and their relationships with others and with G-d. It would have been unfathomable to make families have to choose between this event and their holiest of holidays. I am pleased this issue is now behind us.”

The letter was initiated by Rep. Ron Klein of Florida and was also cosigned by Reps. Franks, Berkley, Ros Lehtinen, Ackerman, Brown, Berman, Rothman, Schakowsky, McGovern, Burton, Weiner, Towns, Meek, Walz, Castor, Hastings (FL), Schwartz, Peters, Rohrabacher, Filner, Wasserman-Schultz, Murphy, Waxman, Jackson-Lee, Maloney, McMorris Rodgers.

The new date has yet to be announced.