Las Vegas extends its lights beyond the bustle of casinos and entertainment to honor a somber moment in history. Today, the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign will don a yellow hue for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This gesture is held in remembrance of the six million Jewish victims and millions of others persecuted during the Holocaust. Clark County Commission Chairman Michael Naft will lead a ceremony at 12:30 p.m., transforming the sign into a beacon of solemn reflection.
Commissioner Naft explained, “The Holocaust stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history, and it is our solemn duty to ensure its lessons are never forgotten.” In a statement obtained by the Clark County newsroom, he shared his belief that lighting this renowned symbol in remembrance is to reaffirm the community's stand against hatred and bigotry.
The occasion also holds personal resonance for community leaders like Stefanie Tuzman, president and CEO of Jewish Nevada. Given her familial connection to the Holocaust, Tuzman sees today as more than an annual ritual—it's a call to preserve history and galvanize action against the tides of antisemitism. “As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, International Holocaust Remembrance Day is deeply personal for me. It is a reminder not only of the lives lost, but of the responsibility we carry—to remember, to educate, and to act. As a community leader, I see every day how remembrance must be paired with vigilance, especially in a time of rising antisemitism. We honor the past by protecting our future,” Tuzman told the Clark County newsroom.
The date is embedded with historical significance, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945. The United Nations proclaimed this date International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005, and Nevada gave it official recognition via Senate Bill 96 in 2025. The Las Vegas sign, designed by Betty Willis in 1959 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, is a testament to the city's enduring spirit and a fitting monument to embrace such a poignant symbol of remembrance and tribute.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the color of the sign's illumination.
