Following a suggestion made by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, the states of Nebraska, Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada and Maryland decided to join the State of New York and commemorate the heroic deeds of Raoul Wallenberg on October 5th, 2005.
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who disappeared in January 1945 after saving the lives of tens of thousands condemned to certain death by the Nazis during World War II, became the second person in history to be awarded Honorary U.S. Citizenship on October 5th 1981.
2005 marks the 60th anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s capture and disappearance and it is more important than ever before to mark October 5th in a meaningful way. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation asked members of the media, community leaders and educators to help us raise awareness about the life of Raoul Wallenberg and others like him who acted with great courage and dignity to help save the lives of others. Schools and synagogues have been contacted about this unique educational opportunity for students to discuss issues such as human rights, courage and personal integrity within the framework of learning about the holocaust.
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is a non-profit organization, with the aim of rendering homage, promoting the message and remembering the actions of all those Heroes of the Holocaust, who like Raoul Wallenberg, risked their lives to save persecuted people during the Holocaust.
