HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & COHEN EDUCATION CENTER Honors Hero

The Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center will honor a modern day hero at its annual “Triumph of Courage” fundraising event on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

The Museum’s mission is “to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence,” and the evening’s Honoree is the embodiment of that action. Lieutenant General (ret) The Honorable Romeo A. Dallaire, an internationally known advocate for Human Rights, was the Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Missions in Rwanda before and during the Rwandan Genocide.

His actions then and now make him a perfect example of an “Upstander” who follows his conscience and helps others.

Following his retirement from the military, General Dallaire founded the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security, a global partnership to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in violence.

The Courage of General Dallaire …

In 1994, Rwanda was in the throes of escalating ethnic violence. General Dallaire warned the international community of the great danger this terrible conflict posed. Yet, instead of providing the General with additional forces to help stem the conflict, he was ordered to withdraw his troops.

He himself refused to leave, remaining in Rwanda along with a small contingent of Ghanaian and Tunisian soldiers and military observers. As the horrors of the Rwandan Genocide unfolded, they bravely stayed to protect the people who had sought refuge with UN troops.

Glaire’s actions during this genocide have been well-documented in films and books, including his own award-winning account, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda. The 2017 documentary film Shake Hands with the Devil – The Journey of Roméo Dallaire, based on his book, can be seen on YouTube.

In 2014 the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum presented him with the Elie Wiesel Award for his heroic efforts in Rwanda.

“Triumph of Courage” will be held at the Arthrex Conference Center in Naples on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and program from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $300 each, and a variety of event sponsorship packages are available. Net proceeds from the Triumph event will benefit the Museum’s Education programs which reach more than 15,000 students and 30,000 total people annually.