Galen Shelly claims he didn't realize the impact of the phrase that appeared on St. Joseph School float, causing community backlash.
“I had no ill intent,” Galen S. Shelly told PennLive on Saturday. “I made a mistake and I am deeply sorry.”Shelly, who was the head designer and does not have children enrolled in the school, said he didn’t realize the impact of “Arbeit Macht Frei,” the phrase he selected.
The float depicted what appears to be a look-alike of one of the main gates at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp with the phrase. That phrase - which translates literally to “Work Makes You Free” - was commonly posted at World War II-era concentration camps throughout Europe, including Auschwitz, the deadliest of them all.where dozens of posters were aghast about the optics - whether accidental or intended.Shelly said the phrase was not part of his original design but came about after a lighted archway with lanterns at the top he ordered didn’t ship on time. At the last minute, he said he built his own version to create a vision of a somber entrance to a cemetery. He said he researched photos of cemeteries online. “I wanted to illustrate the idea none of us get out of this life alive,” Shelly said. “I never intended anything to be like this. I couldn’t have anticipated it. I made a mistake and I ask everyone’s forgiveness.”Shelly said he is upset by the repercussions from his mistake and feels badly for the church and school, including the students.On Saturday, the cleaning company issued a statement on Facebook: “Our company volunteered to pull a float for a local community group; however, we were not involved in the creation of its decorations or messaging. “At the time, we were unaware of its meaning and significance. We recognize that we should have taken a closer look at the float prior to the parade, and we are truly sorry for that oversight,” they said. Representatives from the Hanover Jaycees and St. Joseph School didn’t respond when reached for comment. Sue Gleiter is the dining reporter for PennLive, concentrating on the central Pa. restaurant scene and beyond. For more than 25 years, she has covered a wide range of topics, including restaurant openings and...If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
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