Chargé Meltzer Honors Remembrance, Revival, and Resolve at March for Life Commemoration
A Powerful Reflection on Shared History and Future Commitment
May 15th, 2025
On May 7th, 2025, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Germany, Clark Price Meltzer, delivered a powerful address during the March for Life Commemoration Event, marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe. The ceremony, held in Berlin, gathered survivors, diplomats, religious leaders, and civil society organizations in a moving reflection on history, human dignity, and the enduring responsibility to confront hatred.
The event, organized in partnership with the March of Life movement, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the March of the Living, reaffirmed the importance of preserving historical memory while addressing the persistent threats of antisemitism and hate-fueled ideologies.
In his remarks, Chargé Meltzer framed the occasion around three guiding principles: Remembrance, Revival, and Resolve.
“Remembrance is our first common duty, under which no line can or should ever be drawn,” Meltzer emphasized, recalling the decisive moments when American soldiers bore witness to the horrors of concentration camps like Dachau, Buchenwald, and Ohrdruf. He paid tribute to those liberators, historians, and legal professionals—including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson—who sought justice for victims and established enduring lessons for humanity.
The speech also honored the spirit of revival that followed the war, with a reference to Secretary of State James Byrnes’ 1946 'Speech of Hope' in Stuttgart, which set the foundation for a democratic, peaceful Germany built not on punishment but on partnership.
Meltzer noted that the U.S.-German relationship has since evolved into one of the closest alliances, based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to human dignity. He praised Germany’s enduring Erinnerungskultur—its culture of remembrance—as an essential pillar of justice and moral responsibility.
Yet, the Chargé also delivered a firm message about the present-day necessity for Resolve, warning against the alarming resurgence of antisemitism in both Germany and the United States.
“Our collective response must be resolute, unified, and unwavering in defense of dignity and justice,” he affirmed, highlighting ongoing initiatives like the U.S.-Germany Dialogue on Holocaust Issues, launched in 2021, which has trained over 230 senior international officials on Holocaust history, antisemitism prevention, and mass atrocity early warning.
The event concluded with a tribute to Holocaust survivors, including Margot Friedländer, who at 103 years old continues to engage German youth with her message of compassion and remembrance.
The Chargé’s participation underscored the United States’ enduring commitment to confronting hatred, safeguarding historical truth, and promoting international cooperation to prevent future atrocities.
As Berlin marked 80 years since liberation, the March for Life Commemoration served as both a solemn remembrance and a call to future vigilance — a reminder that the lessons of the past must continually inform the actions of the present.
References
- https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2025 https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2025
- https://www.ansa.it/english/news/news_from_embassies/2025/02/14/italian-embassy-in-berlin-hosts-biennale-2025-presentation_8ec6998a-5ecf-4268-b3c9-bcc2ced17581.html https://www.ansa.it/english/news/news_from_embassies/2025/02/14/italian-embassy-in-berlin-hosts-biennale-2025-presentation_8ec6998a-5ecf-4268-b3c9-bcc2ced17581.html
