Committee President James C. Roberts Emcees Dedication of The Victims of Communism Memorial
On June 12, 2007, the Victims of Communism Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC. The memorial is a replica of the “Goddess of Democracy†statue erected by the Chinese students during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and serves as a reminder of the horrors of an ideology that led to the deaths of over 100 million people.
Accepting the memorial on behalf of the people of the United States was President George W. Bush. Also speaking were Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and Tom Lantos—who after surviving the Nazi Holocaust in his native Hungary, saw first-hand the evils of communism when the Soviet Union imposed its will on Eastern Europe following World War II. James C. Roberts, president of the American Veterans Center, served as master of ceremonies for the dedication. In this issue of Valor, we print his remarks:
Reverend Clergy, Congressmen Tom Lantos and Dana Rohrabacher, Lee Edwards, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jim Roberts and I have the privilege of serving as master of ceremonies for this morning’s program.
On behalf of the directors of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, I welcome you to this ceremony in which we dedicate this memorial honoring the memory of the more than 100 million people who have perished at the hands of international communism.
Unlike many dedication ceremonies, this one, by its nature, cannot be a celebration. It is rather, an occasion for remembrance, gratitude and re-dedication:
