It's no surprise that Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., both have Holocaust memorials.
But most people wouldn't expect to find one in rural Whitwell, Tenn., a predominately Christian, two-traffic-light town with a population of 1,600 and no Jews.
Yet, a German railcar sits in the yard of Whitwell Middle School, housing The Children's Holocaust Memorial.
The story behind this memorial involves teachers who wanted to teach their students about diversity and intolerance; teenagers who were shocked by the atrocities of the Holocaust and sympathized with its victims; and a lot of paper clips.
"Paper Clips," a documentary about this memorial, premieres in Scottsdale on Friday, Feb. 11, at Harkins Camelview 5 Theatres. After the film, Valley resident and Holocaust survivor Helen Handler will comment on the film and talk about her experiences during World War II.
The story begins in 1998, when David Smith, assistant principal of Whitwell Middle School, attended a teacher's conference in nearby Chattanooga, and was inspired to start a program to teach students about the Holocaust.
good read...
