More than 70 people gathered at the Kaplan Feldman St. Louis Holocaust Museum on May 24 for the Jewish War Veterans Memorial Day service. The St. Louis Jewish Veterans Memorial Center and Post 644 conduct the annual event, which pays tribute to the sacrifices made by Jewish war veterans. A common theme during the 2026 service was remembrance. Monroe Ginsburg, president of the memorial center, told the audience a person lives on as long as their name is remembered.
“By marking each grave and speaking their names, we ensure that the legacy continues, and that their service is never forgotten,” Ginsburg said. “Let us take care to honor every individual who served with the respect and remembrance they deserve.”
Danny Cohn, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, was the keynote speaker for the event.
“We remember because remembrance itself is a sacred act,” Cohn said. “Today, we remember the brave Americans who gave their lives in service to this nation. We honor those who never came home, and we express profound gratitude to all who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces.”
During a somber portion of the service, members of Post 644 read the names of Jewish veterans who died in 2025. The event also honored two young Jewish members of the St. Louis community who were awarded scholarships. Applicants must submit a written description of how they were influenced by a family member who was a veteran. The Ted and Rachael Pevnick Family Scholarship (in honor of the late Ted Pevnick, a World War II veteran and his wife Rachael) was presented to Hannah Elefant, who attends Esther Miller Bais Yaakov High School.
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Hannah’s submission focused on her grandfather, who serving as a chaplain during World War II. Together with his driver in the middle of the night, he would help Jews who were trying to escape to safety by heading to the borders. He would then transport them to a safe place away from the Germans by bribing the guards at the checkpoints to allow them to cross safely.
The Chuck Sandroff Scholarship (in honor of Charles “Chuck” Sandroff, a Vietnam era veteran) was awarded to Lottie Rochester.
