The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as our nation's annual commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust, and mandated the creation of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the six million Jews as well as millions of others murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

Every year, a group of federal agencies produces a Holocaust Remembrance Program in Washington, D.C. Today offers you an opportunity to take part in the special 10^th Annual program, beginning at noon in the historic, restored Lincoln Theater, 1215 U Street N.W., Washington, D.C. HUD has perennially given strong support to the event, and this year more than 24 agencies are participating.

Each year program organizers try to bring to light another aspect of the Holocaust in an on-going educational effort. This year's perspective is the experience of Jews in Bulgaria during World War II. The Bulgarian experience was very unusual because unlike most other nations in the region, Bulgarian Jews were not exterminated in the Holocaust - even though it was overrun by the Nazis. In fact, the Jewish population of Bulgaria actually grew during World War II.

The Bulgarian Ambassador to the United States, Elena Borislavova Poptodorova, will present the historical background on how Bulgarian citizens teamed up with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and their national government to save 48,000 Jews from death in Nazi camps. The keynote speaker, Israel Borouchoff, witnessed this astonishing development while he was living in Bulgaria. Peter Masters, who fled Germany as a teen and enlisted in the Britain Army, also will discuss his experiences (Masters landed at Normandy Beach with his bicycle to fight in the Allied invasion of Europe. He was able to infiltrate the Nazi forces since he was German, highly motivated, and courageous.

Time: Thursday, May 1, 2003, noon

Place: Lincoln Theater, 1215 U Street N.W., Washington D.C. The theater is accessible; sign language interpretation will be provided. (Note: This is a historic theater that was the center of African-American performance arts and culture in Washington for much of the 1920's, 30's and 40's. The theater has been restored, and the neighborhood has undergone another flowering of arts and culture.)

Directions: U Street / Cardozo Metro Green Stop (North on Green Line, direct from L'Enfant Plaza Station). 13th & U exit (Theater is across the street)

For additional information contact Surrell Silverman at 708-0614, ext. 6998.

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"Harmony through Understanding" is the theme of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2003, and all HUD Headquarters employees are invited to join in the opening ceremony today at 10:30 AM, EDT, in the HUD Cafeteria. HUD Field Office staff are encouraged to view the live satellite broadcast, and every visitor to HUD's website is invited to watch the webcast.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides the opportunity to recognize the notable achievements and outstanding contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Their distinct ethnic identities, traditions, cultures and heritages, enrich America, a nation of diversity.

Stop by or tune in to the May 1^st opening ceremony for entertainment including Filipino Folk Dance, Korean Fan Dance, Japanese Dance Tea Ceremony Demonstration, Sign Language Dance, and Chinese Martial Arts Demonstration. In addition, special guests who will participate in this special event include Mr. Viet D. Dinh, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy for the Department of Justice (the keynote speaker); Mr. Michael M. Liu, HUD Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing; and Mr. Mil Arcega, NBC News 4 Anchor/Reporter.