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British Consulate General - Second Anniversary of 9/11
Your members may appreciate some details on what is happening on the
2nd Anniversary of 9/11.
As you may know the Governor and the Mayor have decided on a much more
low-key approach this year. The sole official event, which is for families
of victims only, will be held at Ground Zero starting at 0700 and
finishing at mid-day. During this ceremony children related to those who
died will read out the names of the victims. There will also be 4 moments
of silence marking the times the two planes struck ( 08.46 and 09.03) and
the two towers collapsed (09.59 and 10.29). Later in the day, the Tribute
in Light, twin beams of light that are beamed skyward to evoke the twin
towers, will be switched on at sunset "as a tribute to the memory of those
lost and a symbol of the spirit of the great City of New York".
We do not believe that many of the families of British victims will come
to New York this year mainly because they are more likely to be attending
the formal opening of the September 11 Memorial Garden at Grosvenor Square
in London. In light of this and in keeping with the City's plans The
British Consulate General will not be organising any special services for
the British victims. However the two churches most closely involved with
us in last year's anniversary will be holding commemorative services as
follows:
St Thomas (5th Ave and 53rd St) is having a Service of Prayer and
Praise to Commemorate 9/11 at 14.00. According to the Rector, the service
will be similar to last year's although with a smaller congregation and
without the attendant media scrum. Rev. Mead would welcome attendance from
the British Community ;
Trinity Church (Broadway at Wall St) is holding a number of Prayer
services throughout the day and a special Commemorative
Concert at 18.30 to inaugurate the new organ replacing the one which was
badly damaged when the WTC collapsed. The concert is free and space may be
limited.
Also on the day itself there will be a lunchtime concert in Hanover
Square (Pearl St and Old Slip) at 1300 by the Comrades in Song Choir a
male voice choir from the UK conducted by Dr Haydn James. The concert is
free although there will be a collection in aid of the British Memorial
Garden which is to be built in the Square.
The Choir will also be performing at St Joseph's Church in Greenwich
Village (371 Sixth Ave) at 1400 on 6 September where once again
proceeds will be going towards the British Memorial Garden and other
charities.
Finally if you happen to bump into a British Bobby over the course of next
week or so it is likely that he or she will be one of the 100 who have
volunteered come over to show solidarity with their NYPD comrades by
joining street patrols and riding around in cop cars chasing bad guys etc.
There is talk of a similar number of New York's finest repaying the
compliment next year which should be interesting.
Patrick Owens
HM Consul and Director of US Visa Issuing Posts
British Consulate General
Tel: 1 212 745 0291 Fax: 1 212 754 3062
Website: www.britainusa.com
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