The final installment of the What We Carry film series, featuring the remarkable story of Colonel Edward Shames, premiered at the Sandler Family Campus on Monday, January 27. Held on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the event drew an engaged audience to honor the legacy of Col. Shames and all Holocaust survivors and liberators.
Colonel Edward Shames, who passed away on December 3, 2021, was the last surviving officer of the renowned “Band of Brothers” – Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. A Jewish officer during World War II, Shames played a crucial role in liberating the Dachau concentration camp and was deeply affected by his experiences.
After Gail Flax, Holocaust Commission chair, welcomed the audience, Commission member Deb Segaloff provided an overview of the What We Carry program, explaining the process of creating the film that captured Shames’ Holocaust experience.
A presentation by Rev. Dr. Carroll Starling, a retired Naval Chaplain and ODU professor of education, provided historical context, delving into the experiences of concentration camp liberators. Starling spoke of the psychological impact of their mission, describing the moral injury soldiers such as Shames endured when confronting the unimaginable atrocities of the Holocaust. Starling emphasized the soldiers’ limited prior knowledge about the camps and the long-term psychological ramifications they faced. His nuanced discussion highlighted the complex emotional landscape these soldiers navigated, transforming their wartime experiences from mere historical facts into a deeply human narrative of trauma, resilience, and witness.
As the number of Holocaust survivors and liberators dwindles, programs such as What We Carry become increasingly vital in ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten.
The moral injury that liberators such as Shames endured stands as a testament to the enduring impact of individual stories in the face of unimaginable adversity, and the ongoing commitment to education and remembrance. Through events such as this premiere and the continued efforts of the Holocaust Commission, the legacy of survivors and liberators lives on, educating and inspiring new generations to stand against hatred and intolerance.
To learn more about What We Carry and request it for a classroom, business, or community group, visit
www.jewishva.org/whatwecarry. To learn more about the Holocaust Commission, visit www.holocaustcommission.org, or contact Elka Mednick at emednick@ujft.org.
Premier of What We Carry film features Col. Shames
