The Cross of the Righteous Among the Nations, awarded on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of Lithuanian Jews, was received by the relatives of the awardees on behalf of their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents, the Presidency reported.
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According to the head of state, most Jewish rescuers were ordinary people – not preparing for heroic deeds and not planning to become heroes, but at a crucial moment made a decision that is and will be remembered for centuries as a testimony of humanity, courage, and self-sacrifice.
“The decision of thousands of Lithuanian Jewish rescuers to preserve humanity, their determination to defend the lives and dignity of their fellow citizens proved that even in the cruelest circumstances a person can choose good and truth. Lithuanian Jewish rescuers became an example and a source of hope for all humanity – by saving one life, they saved the whole world,” said G. Nausėda at the awards ceremony.
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According to him, today it is more important than ever to remember and honor people who, through their noble actions, chose humanity at the moment of a crucial decision.
During World War II, about 195 thousand Jews were killed in Lithuania. Before the war, about 208 thousand Jews lived in Lithuania.
The Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of Lithuanian Jews is observed on September 23.
