Members of the Arlington Police Department joined the community on Friday to celebrate a very special birthday.

Rosa Blum, a Holocaust survivor, turned 86 years old today.

Surrounded by birthday flowers and balloons, Ms. Blum spent the afternoon talking about her personal account of life in a World War II concentration camp. She was only 15 years old when she and her Jewish-Romanian relatives were captured and forced to live in an Auschwitz concentration camp.

She smiled as she remembered her family members and all the good things that have happened to her. She thanked all who gathered to celebrate her birthday.

Police Chief Will Johnson was one of many who arrived with birthday wishes.

"We are here today for you, to show you how much you are appreciated," Chief Johnson told her.

Rosa Blum might have narrowly escaped death many times in the German concentration camp, but she continues to have a positive outlook on life and living. She is a featured guest speaker at the Dallas Holocaust Museum.