Honors College students from Lone Star College-Kingwood painted remembrance stones on behalf of the Holocaust Remembrance Association, earlier this month.
Around 30 students from The Honors College Leadership Program (HCLP) painted 80 rocks for the Garden of Hope. The event was sponsored by the Honors College as an afternoon of service.
“It was a somber opportunity to revisit the cruelty of the Holocaust, but we found joy through our commemorative activity,” Katie Pena, HCLP College Relations Coordinator, remarked. “We tried to individualize the stones we painted to the child’s name we wrote on the back.”
Approximately 1.5 million Jewish children died in the Holocaust. The Upstander stone project aims to have a stone painted for each child who perished. Stones are a traditional way for Jews to honor their loved ones.
While painting the stones, students reflected on the lives of those children.
HCLP Apprentice Eleanor Buchan shared her perspective. “It was fun to think of ways to reflect the mindset of a child. I chose themes that included landscapes, nature, and animals. By painting the rocks individually, it makes you think of the many lost children as individuals. Painting each rock helps you really understand the tragedy was more than just a number.”
Holly Ham is a member of the HRA Advisory Council and has been working with the LSC-Kingwood students on this project. “The students have also spent valuable time spraying and sealing 11,000 stones to prepare them for permanent placement at the Holocaust Garden of Hope. These bright students showcased their enthusiasm and focus on supporting our community with their time and treasure,” she shared.
These stones will be present at the grand opening of the Holocaust Garden of Hope. The garden is located at King’s Harbor, along Lake Houston, in Kingwood. The garden aims to use painting, sculpture, music and physical structures to illustrate the experiences of children in concentration camps during the Holocaust and turn it into a message of peace and hope. Stones have been painted by individuals, families, schools, service groups and others.
The Holocaust Remembrance Association stands in solidarity against persecution, prejudice, and indifference by creating Upstanders, who stand against antisemitism. The Honors College at Lone Star Kingwood was proud and excited to collaborate with the Holocaust Remembrance Association and for Honors students to learn more about the initiative.
If you are interested in learning more about the Upstander Stone Project, visit:
https://holocaustremembranceassociation.org/what-we-do/upstander-stones-project/.
If you want more information about The Honors College at LSC-Kingwood, visit:
https://www.lonestar.edu/college-departments/honors/honors-kingwood.htm.
The Cry Of The Martyrs: …v90.I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of GOD, and for the testimony which they held. And cried with a loud voice, saying” “how long O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; And it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were,was completed.(Revelation 6: 9-11), Hamas stated “they will not stop” until they have driven the Jews off the map of the earth, or killed them all. Read the remaining Chapters of Revelation. to know what happens next.