Every year on September 11, our nation pauses to remember lives lost, honor the bravery of first responders, and reflect on the resilience of communities that rose from unimaginable tragedy. It is a day that calls us to think about courage, not only in the past, but also in how we choose to live and remember today.
This year, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, the New Albany community will gather at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts for a program that embodies that same spirit of courage. From 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., a panel discussion will explore the documentary A Train Near Magdeburg, which tells the true story of more than 2,500 Jewish prisoners liberated by American soldiers from an abandoned train in April 1945.
The soldiers who decided to intervene showed extraordinary bravery, compassion, and humanity. Decades later, survivors, liberators, and their descendants were reunited through the determined work of a high school teacher and filmmaker, Mike Edwards. Their stories remind us that even in humanity’s darkest moments, courage can bring hope.
The timing of this program on 9/11 is especially meaningful. Just as we honor the firefighters, police officers, medics, and ordinary citizens who acted selflessly in the face of terror in 2001, we also look back at the liberators near Magdeburg who chose to act with courage in 1945. Though separated by decades and circumstances, both moments reflect a shared truth: when confronted with fear and violence, courage can change the course of history.
By hosting this program, the New Albany community is uplifting the importance of remembering, educating, and inspiring future generations. On a day when the weight of memory is heavy, A Train Near Magdeburg offers not only a glimpse into history but also a reminder that courage endures and that we, too, are called to carry it forward.
Thank you to the City of New Albany, especially Councilmember Marlene Brisk, New Albany Plain Local Schools, The New Albany. Community Foundation, and all donors who are making the presentation and learning opportunities a reality.
Click here to learn more about the event, the film, the book, and the people who are bringing this story to light.
