Dear Families and Friends,

This past Saturday, December 17th VOICES hosted a very special Service of Remembrance at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City. This service was a wonderful opportunity for our families to come together during the holidays and remember our loved ones.

All of us at VOICES send a very special thank you to the staff at St. Paul's Chapel and sculptor Mark Pilato who the gift of their time to coordinate the event in a few weeks. We are also grateful to the musicians and performers, as well as, the Halcottsville Fire Department and the Delaware County ARC who handcrafted an American flag for the event. We'd also like to thank the 9/11 family members who participated in the candle lighting service - Carol Ashley, Nicholas Brandemarti, Lisa Cardinali, Frank and Wesley Fetchet, Annie MacRae, Martha Sanders, Expedito Santillan and Tanya Villanueva.

I would like to add a few verses that have meant so much to me. I hope you enjoy them and find these words helpful for the New Year.

May your eyes be opened to the wonder of the daily
miracles around you and your sense of mystery deepen.

May you be blessed with companions on the journey,
friends who will listen to you and encourage you with their presence.

May you find the still, quiet place inside yourself where
you can know and experience peace.

May the love flow in you and through you to those who
need your care.

May you continue to dream dreams and reach out into the
future with a deeper understanding.

With the season upon us, all of us at VOICES wishes you a safe and happy holiday and hope you will be surrounded by family and friends.

Warm Regards,

Click the links below to view photographs of the service

Voices of September 11th offers our deep gratitude to everyone who participated in or attended the Day of Remembrance Service at St. Paul’s Chapel last Saturday. The event was an opportunity for the families to join together in the Holiday Season to remember our loved ones. St. Paul’s means so much to the families and rescue workers, and holding the event in that historic and healing place made the event even more special. We have received wonderful feedback about the Service, and are planning to hold it again next December so more families will have the opportunity to attend.

We began the service with a choral prelude from the Cheam School Chapel Choir, a group of boys and girls from Berkshire, England. Their angelic faces and uplifting holiday music set the tone for the Service. Then VOICES Founding Director Mary Fetchet and a group of religious leaders including a Rabbi, the Vicar of St. Paul’s, and the Episcopal Bishop of New York processed through the Chapel. Click the following links to read opening remarks from Mary Fetchet and The Reverend Canon Anne Mallonee of St. Paul's.

They processed to a stirring rendition of “We Shall Overcome” by the Harlem Gospel Choir and were led down the aisle by the Loco-Motion Children's Dance Theater. This amazingly talented group of young women entranced the audience with their fluid and energetic dancing throughout the Service.

The heart of the Service was a Candle Lighting Ceremony in remembrance of our loved ones. Seven family members lit candles representing Faith, Love, Courage, Gratitude, Peace, Hope, and Remembrance. Following the Ceremony was an inspirational performance of “I Believe I Can Fly” by the Harlem Gospel Choir. Their joyful voices filled the Chapel to the rafters and Loco-Motion added spectacular choreography, culminating in the raising of one of the younger dancers in “flight” at the conclusion of the song. The musical interlude was followed by a reading of the Prayer of St. Francis and a tolling of the Bell of Hope.

All in attendance, family members, performers and friends then had the opportunity to write notes to loved ones lost on 9/11 while enjoying the intricate jazz meditations of Sonny Fortune and Ensemble. These personal notes were collected by members of the Halcottsville, NY Volunteer Fire Department. and later encased in the base of the sculpture “Ascent".

At the conclusion of the Service, all recessed to St. Paul’s Churchyard led by Loco-Motion members with beautiful white streamers. The Harlem Gospel Choir’s final number, “Total Praise,” was an inspirational accompaniment while the congregation gathered in the Churchyard around “Ascent.” Following another performance by the Cheam Choir and remarks by sculptor Mark Pilato, “Ascent” was blessed by the Episcopal Bishop of New York City, E. Don Taylor. This magnificent sculpture was a gift from Mr. Pilato to the 9/11 families, and will travel around the country while a permanent home is found. Mr. Pilato then encouraged the family members to sign the name of their loved one on the base of the sculpture with a permanent marker. Later, Mr. Pilato and his assistants began etching these messages into the bronze as a permanent tribute. We deeply thank Mark Pilato for his talent and generosity, and for his instrumental role in planning the Service.

Family members were then escorted by the Halcottsville Firefighters to Ground Zero. Though the weather was chilly, all were warmed by the opportunity to draw strength from each other on sacred ground. We joined hands at the site to remember our loved ones collectively and also had opportunities for private reflection and tribute. It was a day of healing and celebration of the wonderful memories we shared with our loved ones. We hope all who attended were uplifted during the sometimes bittersweet Holiday season, and hope all will join us at St. Paul's next year.

Many thanks to photographer Christopher Boswell for this wonderful record of the service. A slideshow of the photos is available by clicking here.

All events for 9/11 Families only

Saturday, Dec. 24th from: 11:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.
Midnight Mass with Fr. Brian Jordan -- Family viewing area.

Every night starting Sunday, Dec. 25 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Menorah lighting at Family viewing area, Rabbi Potasnik will coordinate each night.

Please click here to send us information on your memorial or foundation event. The information will be posted on the VOICES website and included in upcoming e-Newsletters.

VOICES Office Holiday Schedule

We will be closing the VOICES office at 5 pm on Friday, December 23rd for the Holidays. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd. Please be advised that during this period we will not be offering in-person support groups. However, Dr. Robin Goodman will be offering her regular teleconference groups next week for Parents with Children aged 13-21 on Tuesday, December 27th from 9 to 10 p.m. and for Parents with Children aged 4-12 on Wednesday, December 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

All of us at Voices hope you enjoy the vacation time with family and friends. We'll see you in 2006!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
www.voicesofsept11.org

Copyright © 2005 Voices of September 11th. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Fostering improved relationships with all countries confronting terrorism