As most people know, the Holocaust occurred during World War II, and was the extermination of around six million Jews. Some survivors relocated in Israel and the Yad Vashem Memorial was set up to remember the six million Jews who were not as lucky, as well as the survivors.

Yad Vashem in Jerusalem remembers people who were murdered during the Holocaust and was founded in 1953. It is located on the western outskirts of Jerusalem where there are several historical monuments, a museum and a huge database full of documents regarding the Holocaust victims which was established by Israel's Parliament, the Knesset.

Not only are Holocaust victims remembered, heroes of the Ghettos, especially the Warsaw Ghetto, are commemorated. Also, non-Jews who rescued Jews are also commemorated and these heroes are regarded as 'Righteous among the Nations'. There is also a separate memorial to honour the approximately 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust.

Yad Vashem is always organising conferences, events and other ways to spread the word about the Holocaust and its worldwide significance. On January 27, 2008 (International Holocaust Remembrance Day) there was an international Youth Congress where the remembrance and discussion of the Holocaust took place, showing that Yad Vashem has an aim to educate people about the Holocaust for generations and generations to come.

There are many other events that take place on the Yad Vashem calendar but the one highlighted in this article is a memorial that took place in Ottawa, Canada.

On May 1, 2008, the Parliament of Canada honoured Holocaust survivors that moved to Canada after the war. Around 60 survivors arrived from all parts of Canada to Parliament Hill in Ottawa where they commemorated all Holocaust victims by hanging wreaths, creating a memorial.

There were special guests and speakers including the Prime Minister of Canada, various senators and some Holocaust survivors spoke as well.

Each Holocaust survivor laying a wreath was escorted by one of the many dignitaries and in the background a choir of Jewish school children sang beautiful and haunting songs which struck a sad chord for all those who attended.

It was truly a memorable event for all those who attended¿ particularly those Holocaust survivors who were selected to lay the wreaths.

This event is special to me and is somewhat personal as my grandmother is a Holocaust survivor. At around the age of 17, my grandmother, originally born in Hungary, was on a 'death march' to Austria but prior to her arrival at the concentration camp, she escaped back to Budapest, Hungary to a Red Cross refugee camp. Her story of survival is incredible and something that needs to be forever remembered.

One day I plan on writing her story and sending it to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. I am truly honoured to be her granddaughter and hope that this amazing woman's strength has been passed on to me.