UPDATED: Scroll to the bottom to read a lengthy comment by the float’s designer, Galen Shelley.
Incredible, via PennLive:
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg apologized Friday for a grade school’s Halloween parade float that included imagery with deep connections to the Holocaust.
The float in question was entered in Thursday night’s Hanover Halloween Parade by the St. Joseph School there.
Photos and a Youtube video of the parade show what appears to be a look-alike of one of the main gates at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, including the phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei.”
That phrase – which translates literally to “Work Makes You Free” – was commonly posted at World War II-era concentration camps throughout Europe, including Auschwitz, the deadliest of them all.
It was likely used, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, to mock the mostly Jewish populations sentenced to harsh, forced labor in them.
The phrase’s appearance on the school float started raising concerns Friday afternoon on the Hanover Area Watch Group Facebook page, where dozens of posters were aghast about the optics – whether accidental or intended.
“Any educator who missed the historical significance of this sign and put it in a parade should resign,” wrote the woman who kicked off the discussion.
“Saying “I think this was just an accident” isn’t an excuse.”
The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, has issued the following statement regarding a notorious symbol of hate that appeared on a float of one of the Diocese’s Catholic schools during a recent community Halloween parade:
“I was shocked and appalled to learn that the Halloween parade float from Saint Joseph Catholic school in Hanover included a replica of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate, bearing the words ‘Arbeit Macht Frei.’
“The inclusion of this image—one that represents the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaust—is profoundly offensive and unacceptable. While the original, approved design for this float did not contain this imagery, it does not change the fact that this highly recognizable symbol of hate was included.
“On behalf of the Diocese of Harrisburg, I express my sincere apology to our Jewish brothers and sisters and to all who were hurt or offended by this display. I strongly condemn the inclusion of this symbol on the float. As Catholics, we stand firmly against all forms of antisemitism, hatred, and prejudice, which are rampant in our society. The Church’s relationship with the Jewish community is one of deep respect, friendship, and shared faith in the one true God.
“We will work with the school community to ensure that this incident becomes an opportunity for education and reflection, and review approval processes so that such a grievous incident is never repeated.
“Let us continue to pray for healing, understanding, and unity among all of God’s people.”
Bishop Senior has pledged to work with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the Anti-Defamation League to provide information to the local school community on the horrific suffering endured by the Jewish people during the Holocaust, and the continued antisemitism seen throughout our world today.
UPDATE: The designer of the float issued a long statement on a Facebook thread, which reads in part:
Words do matter, and sometimes the same words can be used for both good and bad. Words misplaced or misunderstood and words within symbols can harm deeply and for that I offer my humblest apologize to St. Joseph’s Church, as well as the School program and to Metcalf Family Cleaning who’s only role has been to pull the float.
At the hitch, if you recall, behind the antiqued orchard basket corral that retained the bounty of harvest was a cornucopia. Among that abundance of food and fruits ~ Much I which I enjoy growing on my own farm, 7 of them were decal-ed with the 7 Fruits of the Spirit! Those being Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness and Faithfulness. (see Galations 5: 22) (Gentleness and Kindness are also on this list found in Vrs 23) tho the Cornucopia “kit” I used from Amazon did not have decals for all 9. So I began with a presentation of God’s gifts to us, food & sustenance of which the best of us can NOT create for ourselves! With our dependence solely upon God’s provision for daily nourishment we are reminded that in it all HE teaches us and wants us to have and to be a reflection of his spirit visible within us always. (By their fruits you will “know them”!)
Next, The GREATEST gift EACH of us possesses would be the miracle of life given to us by God. The fruit was closely followed by a swing set. My initial vision on this was to have a football or basketball player and a cheerleader in school uniform, each happily swinging with the gentle motion of the float making it’s way through the route waving to all sides! For safety reasons I was encouraged to not have riders of this age in that position so instead of scary broken doll figurines I leaned once again on Amazon for a “Spookie Casper the Ghost” to fill in! Sadly the recognizable felt dot eyes did not survive the last minute somewhat speedy trip to the starting line up. I also don’t think I did the best job getting the arms of the casper outfit tied in a realistic way to the swing set chains and as the wind pulled and stretched them they looked even less like the swinging Caspers I had envisioned of them! In the least, The point is that swing sets are enjoyed by the youngest in our early formative years and it’s one of our first skills learned and is the earliest of memories made…being walked to a park and pushed on a swing. Good times, sweet innocent childhood.
Next in my vision we discover the sweet tooth in our early teens and who at that age doesn’t love a milkshake a banana split, hamburger or fries and onion rings. I wanted to “nail” this as well so I created onto the diner tables actual movie set realist food, much of it made especially for this Sham Rock n Roll float by the folks who service the movie production companies and for Hershey Food Chocolate Company. Who would have guessed chocolate truffles melt under studio lights! I wanted by this section of the float to show an attention to detail and a capture of the theme that would be a tough act to follow! I had 3 full table settings + but it felt crowded…There were even Menus for the Shamrock Diner!
Under and around the tables begins the diner-esq black and white floor leading up to a larger than life Juke Box which was a piece I was thrilled to say I built myself utilizing all sorts of different mediums and props I had at hand to capture the look. It was a challenging task but I really enjoyed going for the illusion of a real life Wurlitzer! Just for the record, (pun intended) a number of parts used in the construction actually came from real Wurlitzer old stock…an example being the song selection play list tabs on each side. These days it’s all iTunes and Ear buds but there was a time that older folks walked to a Juke Box and inserted quarters for a few songs. Maybe over a more serious dinner or meet, date and marry to music played on one of these lost to time devices! These were the “original playlists”!! Truly “middle age” stuff. I was elated at how this piece came together so much so that I named it “Whirl-It-Sir” a take on the original brand that held the distinction of being most recognizable and copied! This was the anchor to the Sham Rock-N-Roll theme selected for the float.
Sadly…anyone who has undertaken a task like this will understand when I say the vision had to be curtailed to make the starting line up so “Whirl It Sir” fell off the wish list.
IF you ask me…this phase of life…where we are somewhat in charge or our own space and actions doesn’t last nearly long enough…OR perhaps because it such a great spot, it just passes very quickly by ~ almost like a vapor!
Next came the entrance to a cemetery. Life is moving us along from phase to phase. Halloween Express had the perfect 97″ lighted archway with lanterns at the tops…I widened the trailer early on to accommodate that prop!…I liked being able to get color and light up purposefully that high off the deck for the sake of “interest” and attempted to order their “Halloween Manor” version. In the same way….I had been looking for a collection of tombstones and did some traveling to get the collection. Met some neat folks who appreciated the effort and vision as I discussed the purchase with them and potentially using it on a float like this. When it came down to it…I discovered I could get far more realistic “previously used” tombstones than I could ever hope to cut from my own Styrofoam or make forms and cast with my own resin. Conversely….as the 30th approached swiftly it was a matter of dividing time across items that could be purchased for less money than it might take actual “time” to build. Alas, I could not find any new or “used” cemetery entrances available in time and began making my own.
