From Yahoo News:
Sept. 11, 2011, marks the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack. The tragedy is being commemorated at events across Atlanta, and even outside it in the Freedom Ride from Atlanta to New York City.
* The 9/11 Interfaith Gathering seeks to build "relationships between faith communities and across lines that have divided us in the past." It was planned by a group that included Christians, Jews, and Muslims, as well as Buddhists and Hindus. The free event will start at 5 p.m. in the Decatur Hotel and Conference Center's ballroom. Parking is free at the Decatur First Baptist Church next door; parking at the hotel is available for a fee.
* The 9/11 Victory Run is a 5k run / walk around Chastain Park "in celebration of Ryan Means' dedication to our country." Means was an Iraq War soldier who died of cancer. Registration starts at 12 at the Ryan P. Means American Legion Hall, and costs $30; online pre-registration is $25 for adults and $15 for those 18 and under. The race itself starts at 2 p.m. Runners are encouraged to park alongside Chastain Park, and not in the nearby residential neighborhoods.
* The DeKalb 9/11 Memorial, a project to build a permanent memorial in the Atlanta area, will be holding a Remembrance Ceremony "that will include a ceremonial procession and memorial dedication" starting at 8 a.m. The event is free to attend, and will be held at the DeKalb County Public Safety Complex. Visitors are asked to park in the designated areas, and "leave the roadway open for the ceremonial procession."
The 9/11 Memorial in New York City will officially open on Sept. 11 with a ceremony for victims' families at Ground Zero. The Memorial will then open to the public on the next day for visitors who reserved passes in advance. On Sept. 10, Community Board 1 will hold Hands Across Lower Manhattan, an event on the West Side Waterfront.
Click here to read the touching story about Richard "Rick" Rescorla, a 62-year-old retired and decorated U.S. Army colonel, who had focused on security at the World Trade Center for years and led over 2,500 people to safety despite having received official instructions to stay put after the 8:46 a.m. crash next door. An opera on his story recently opened in San Francisco. A Vietnam War Hero, Rescorla also was featured on the cover of the book, "'We Were Soldiers Once … and Young,"' and Fort Benning, Georgia, displays a statue of him.
And for teachers, "Education Week" featured a recent post entitled, "Teachers Step Gently Into Lessons About 9/11" offering suggestions for lessons on the topic of the 9/11 tragedy. You need an account to read the post, but accounts are free. High school social studies teachers are finding that most of their current freshmen—kindergartners in 2001—never experienced the horror of watching the twin towers collapse. The video at the top of this post is a collection of news reports along a timeline of that terrible day. It's not long, but it certainly helps explain that tragic event. In addition, you can purchase a copy of the book, "The Legacy Letters", edited by Dunwoody resident, Brian Mand. All proceeds go to the non-profit group, Tuesday's Children.
Yahoo will be sponsoring a "Digital Moment of Silence" on September 11 at 8:46 am as we, and certainly the entire country will be silent and reflect.
I am in a couple of local "Meet Up" groups. Today, the founder of Meet Up wrote this letter about 9/11:
ReplyDeleteFellow Meetuppers,
I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.
Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I hoped they wouldn't bother me.
When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being neighborly.
A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and grow local communities?
We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make people distrust one another.
A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months after 9/11.
Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups, Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of 100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one thing.
Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me. They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's powerful stuff.
It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks to everyone who shows up.
Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it weren't for 9/11.
9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new community together!!!!
The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started with these Meetups.
Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
New York City
September 2011
"People really do catch you when you fall."
ReplyDelete-Deborah Epps, who lost her brother in the collapse of the towers.
It was heartbreaking to listen to the names being read and children, spouses and relatives saying a word about the one taken from them. May they all find peace in their hearts and minds.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has changed. As a young boy during WWII the country was mobilized by the phrase "Remember Pearl Harbor". All our efforts were devoted to defeating the enemy. Now the country tries to make peace with and appease an enemy, who they will no longer name, and who is still active and sworn to kill us. Strange. We seem to have lost something.
But enough of the personal comments on this morning of remembrance. May all of those who lost loved ones find solace.
The terrorists did a horrible thing, but in the end, I believe it has backfired. They did not realize the depth of the American spirit. They did not realize the strength of our people. They didn't realize the bond we share and how that bond has been strengthened by this act of sheer evil. We're like a family, we squabble amongst ourselves, but when outsiders try to break us up, we grow stronger together.
ReplyDeleteIt has been excruciatingly sad to watch the families read the names of their loved ones who perished, but the presentations cross all ethnic, racial, social and religious barriers. The rebuilt memorial itself is a moving tribute to the people who perished, and to the resiliency and strength of Americans. Although we can be deeply hurt, we cannot be intimidated for long. We choose hope every time.
IMO, 9/11 should always been "A Day of Service" - that is the best way to remember and value those that lost their lives.
ReplyDeleteI was speaking with my Sister-in-law, who lived in NYC at the time (she has since moved to the suburbs) and lost several friends. She and many people in NYC have been indignant over the commercialization of 9/11. She said you can buy 9/11 mugs, 9/11 coasters, 9/11 tshirts, and a winery is actually selling 9/11 wine. To try and make the almighty dollar over 9/11 is shameful.
To that end, DM, there was a group that worked to clean up Kittredge Park in DeKalb.
ReplyDeleteRemembering by Doing at Kittredge Park
As part of Hands On Atlanta's 9/11 Day of Service, area volunteers helped clean up Kittredge Park to help bring it closer to what is envisioned in its master plan.
I'm sure there were many more projects around the county.
ps - 9/11 wine? Oh brother.