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11th September 2002 Anniversary Tribute
www.bbc.co.uk/september11

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We got sent in a couple of poems for this day...

A Country Divided?
 Kate Mulder
 August 7, 2002

 A Country divided?
 I hope it is not.

 I grew up near a city
 where every culture
 met, mingled,
 and learned from each other.
 They called it a “melting pot.”
 A Country divided?
 I sense it is not.

 My roots can be traced to
Scotland and England,
Italy and Switzerland,
Sweden and Germany
and yes, even Natives to America
With names like Wilson, Fields,
Carriciola, Leva, Heinle,
Niger, and Caramalova
A Country divided?
I feel it is not.

I remember the lady,
standing proud in the harbor of that melting pot,
lifting her lamp,
shouting her message to the world.
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
Send these, the homeless tempest-tost-to me..”
And haven't they come?
And all become Americans no matter their roots?
A Country divided?
I think it is not.

My father's great grandfather came to escape injustice
My mother's father came to help design a canal
And didn't they all come...
willingly or not...
to build...
a chance to make a better life...
and put aside what they left behind...
for good or for bad...?
A Country divided?
I believe it is not.

On September 11th
when the twin towers fell, and
 thousands were killed in the blink of an eye.
Did we momentarily grieve and forget?
No.
For, those thousands of silenced voices rose
like phoenixes through the burning ashes
and reverberated in the hearts of millions.
People, who, angered by terrorists,
become one,
as they have through every national adversity.
A Country of hope and of promise.
One nation;
one people steeled in its soul.
A Country divided?
I remember it is not.

The world is too small,
life too brief
 to let differences divide.
We are all one species.
Let our similarities unite
and shine as a signal to others.
A Country divided?
I know it is not...

Sept 11
by George D Birse

And we’ll not forget until we die
How planes came hurtling from the sky
Twin towers fell

And broke the spell

 of peace on Earth

 Goodwill to men

 

September eleven

Land of the Free

Another Day of Infamy

For thousands died

Our Nation cried    

For Peace on Earth

Goodwill to men

 

Then around the World our cry it rang

For vengeance in Afghanistan

Soon bombs fell down

And hid the sound

 of peace on Earth

Goodwill to men

 

One year is gone

I still can’t grasp

God’s meaning in these things that passed

Still he has a plan

Love'll reign again

with peace on Earth

Goodwill to men

 

North Tower South Tower

 

Pentagon Pittsburgh

The Four Attacks

2801 victims in 83 countries
2801 victims in 83 countries


New York Policeman handing over British Flag found in the
rubble of the Twin Towers to the UK Home Secretary.


At St Paul's Cathedral

At the US Embassy in London
At the US Embassy in London


British Prime Minister, Prince Charles and Prince Harry at St Paul's Cathedral in London


The places where the planes came down


The Pipes and Drums in New York

President and Mrs Bush at the Pentagon ceremony
President and Mrs Bush at the Pentagon ceremony

Unveiling the Flag at the Pentagon
The President at the unveiling of the Flag at the Pentagon

President Bush with families in Pennsylvania
President Bush with families in Pennsylvania

St Paul's tribute to US victims

Congregation inside St Paul's Cathedral in London
A minute's silence was held at St Paul's and elsewhere
 

A service has been held at St Paul's Cathedral in London as the UK joined the world in marking the anniversary of the 11 September terror attacks in the US.

Two thousand people including many friends and relatives of the 67 British victims gathered at the cathedral for the sombre service of remembrance.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles and Prince Harry were among the congregation, while hundreds of people gathered outside to pay tribute.

The Bishop of London Richard Chartres told the congregation the cathedral held an "ocean of suffering", but mourners must "love - and go on".

He said hope rested in the solidarity shown by those affected, which he said "can turn compassion into energy capable of overcoming indifference and downright evil".

At 1346 BST - the time when the first jet hit the World Trade Center one year ago - a minute's silence was held in the cathedral and across Britain.

More than 3,000 white rose petals - one for every victim - were released from the cathedral's great dome as Sarabande from Bach's Cello Suite Number Five broke the silence.

The London Stock Exchange and most of the City also observed the silence in a tribute to their American counterparts.

So did staff at the US Air Force bases at Lakenheath and Mildenhall, both in Suffolk.

Staff and passengers at Heathrow airport fell silent, while many shops and offices stopped work, and fire brigades parked their engines in front of stations.

Union flag

Earlier, a service was held at the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London.

Among the guests was US Ambassador William Farish, who referred to Britain as "America's truest friends" who had stood "firmly by our side" in the aftermath of the attacks.

Also speaking was Lieutenant Frank Dwyer of the New York Police Department.

Princes Charles and Harry

Princes Charles and Harry were among the congregation
 

He had with him a Union Flag which had been found in the rubble of the World Trade Center, and which he presented to Home Secretary David Blunkett.

The flag, which Lt Dwyer described as a "symbol of endurance and the strength of the British people", was later taken to St Paul's, where Lt Dwyer lit a candle of remembrance.

Both Britain and America are on heightened security alert amid fears extremists may attempt to emulate the attack.

Scotland Yard anti-terror chiefs have warned lone terrorists could seize upon the opportunity of a "world stage" offered by the memorial day.

Armed roadblocks have been set up around London and a no-fly zone will be in force at key times across the capital.

Scotland mourns 9/11 atrocity

BBC Reporting Scotland TV Program pays tribute to 9/11
BBC's Reporting Scotland TV Program pays tribute to 9/11

Piper and firefighters
A plaque was unveiled to mark the anniversary
 

Scotland is paying its respects on the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US.

Communities are gathering in churches, mosques and synagogues across the country to commemorate the atrocities of a year ago.

A 45-minute service of remembrance was held at St Giles's Cathedral in Edinburgh, led by the Rt Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

First Minister Jack McConnell gave a reading and a passage from the Koran was delivered by Glasgow councillor Bashir Maan.


 
When everyone else is running out, firefighters are running in. So it was on September 11, 2001


 

Colin Cranston
Lothian and Borders firemaster

The Rt Rev Macdonald reminded those present of the "unimagineable evil" that had befallen the victims and praised rescue workers.

Representatives of the Scottish Catholic and Episcopal churches also participated in the service alongside Jewish community leaders and a representative of the US Consulate General.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the headquarters of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade to mark the first anniversary of the attacks.

'Natural instinct'

Mr McConnell said it was "fitting and proper" to recognise the sacrifice of those who died exactly one year ago.

"We should hold true to the spirit of those firefighters, a spirit that saw them go forward when every natural instinct for many of us would have been to run away," he added.

Lothian and Borders firemaster Colin Cranston said: "There is a very old, hackneyed saying in the fire service, that when everyone else is running out, firefighters are running in. So it was on September 11, 2001."

Candle at rremembrance service
A remembrance service was held in Edinburgh
 

The Scottish Parliament marked the anniversary with an afternoon debate on Scotland's links with the US.

There was no formal period of silence in parliament, whose sitting did not begin until 1430 BST on Wednesday.

But MSPs and staff were given the opportunity of observing a minute's silence at 1346 BST.

Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils are flying flags at half-mast at the City Chambers. In Dundee, a minute's silence was observed in City Square.

Building bridges

Aberdeen City Council is flying the Stars and Stripes from the Town House and the city's Lord Provost Margaret Smith has sent a message of support to the people of New York.

Leaders of the main faiths will meet on Thursday to discuss ways of building bridges in the wake of last year's terrorist attacks and their aftermath.

Sister Isabel Smyth of the Scottish Inter-Faith Council, said: "This historic meeting will show that we in Scotland can actually do something about it and work together in that search for peace and understanding."

Mourner holding stars and stripes
A personal tribute
 

The Earl and Countess of Wessex were in Scotland to open a causeway connecting the remote island of Eriskay to the rest of the Western Isles.

The ceremony included a prayer and a minute's silence as a mark of respect for those who died in the attacks.

The Scottish Coalition for Justice Not War said it would be staging a rally in Glasgow's George Square at 1800 BST on Wednesday "to remember the innocent victims of all conflict".

Three people from Scotland died in the terrorist attacks on New York.

     

  • 47-year-old Gavin Cushny, from the Isle of Lewis, was working as a computer consultant with Cantor-Fitzgerlad on the 104th floor of the north tower
  • 29-year-old Derek Sword, a squash champion originally from Monifieth, Tayside, worked as an investment banker at Keefe Bruyette Woods on the 89th floor of the south tower
  • Colin McArthur, 52, from Scotland, was vice-president of insurance company Aon Inc.

Scots observing a minutes silence in St George's Square, Glasgow
Scots observing a minutes silence in St George's Square, Glasgow

First Minister, US Consul General and other political leaders attending the service in St Giles Cathedral
First Minister, US Consul General and other political leaders
attending the service in St Giles Cathedral

US Consul-General Liane Dorsey
US Consul-General for Scotland Liane Dorsey
She earlier had unveiled a plaque to US Fire Fighters at a Fire Station in Glasgow

Scottish Parliament pays it's tribute
Scottish Parliament pays it's tribute

Queen consoles New York's Britons

Mourners
Mourners remembered the 67 dead Britons
 

New York's grieving British community has been sent a message of consolation by the Queen to mark the anniversary of the 11 September terror attacks.

She paid tribute to the "very special" people who were lost, and said "right must and will prevail" in the fight against terrorism.

The message was read out by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at a special service in St Thomas Church in the heart of Manhattan on the eve of the anniversary.

The evensong was held in memory of the 67 British killed a year ago and was attended by families of 34 victims, many in tears as they heard the Queen's condolences.


 
They were killed for being ordinary, free people - Americans, British and others working here in New York


 

Rev Andrew C Mead
St Thomas Church

Among the mourners was Susan Rescorla, whose British-born husband Rick died evacuating people from the burning World Trade Centre.

She simply said: "I am sick to the stomach".

The Queen began by referring to the "terrible events" of last 11 September and goes on: "Every person who was lost that day was someone very special: a son, a daughter, a father, mother, husband, wife, loved one or valued friend.

"We remember them today for all they mean to us and for the void they leave in our lives."

'New York spirit'

The Queen also honoured the "courage and determination" of the armed forces and "others who are striving to bring those responsible for this outrage to justice and to prevent similar atrocities in the future".

The Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, blessed a crucifixion memorial which was inscribed with the Queen's words spoken soon after the attack: "Grief is the price we paid for love."

And in a prayer, Dr Carey called on God to "defeat the powers of darkness that disfigure and distort our world".

Charity and courage

A group of 42 British policemen and women kept an honorary guard at the service.

They entered the church carrying a British and an American flag after marching down Fifth Avenue with 300 of their colleagues.

The Queen added: "The dreadful attacks of September 11 may have threatened freedom, innocence and other values we hold dear, but they also inspired grace, charity and courage."

And she paid tribute to the rescue workers and the "extraordinary spirit and resilience" of New Yorkers.

People outside the church
Mourners comforted each other
 

Personally thanking the city for its support of grieving Britons, she added: "You have again given practical expression to the true, deep and lasting friendship between our two countries.

"My thoughts and prayers are with you all."

The rector of St Thomas Church, the Reverend Andrew C Mead, told the congregation: "They were killed for being ordinary, free people - Americans, British and others working here in New York, decently using and enjoying their freedom."

Michael Oliver, the Lord Mayor of London, read a lesson at the service.

British mourners were also invited to a special ceremony at Ground Zero on Wednesday morning.


See September 11 2001 tribute


 


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