Holocaust survivors, descendants of victims, activists and lawmakers marked Holocaust Remembrance Day Friday at the State Capitol.

Alpharetta Rabbi Michael Bernstein sang a memorial chant as the crowd honored Georgia leaders who teach the lessons of the World War Two tragedy.

Two metro Atlanta teachers received awards for their lesson plans, and about 25 middle and high school students accepted medals for winning Holocaust art and essay contests.

One of the winners, DeKalb County 10th grader Oscar Acevedo, says one lesson is the need to act against all injustice.

ACEVEDO: “Bullying is a very serious thing in school, and it doesn’t just happen in schools it happens anywhere any time and as modern people as modern youth we should strive toward minimizing the actions of hatred such as bullying.”

Acevedo says if Georgians don't continue to study the Holocaust and its lessons, history could repeat itself. But he does feel that young people today are informed about it.

Five Holocaust survivors and survivors' descendants lit candles in memory of victims.

The ceremony and contest are sponsored by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust.

Click on this page's link to hear Rickey Bevington's complete interview with essay winner Oscar Acevedo.

Tags: World War II, Rickey Bevington, All Things Considered, Holocaust, Oscar Acevedo, rabbi, Michael Bernstein