Dear Families and Friends,
All of us at VOICES send our heartfelt thanks to those who contributed to making our 10th Anniversary events truly memorable for the 9/11 community. This year we participated in fourteen commemorative events in five states, benefitting over 6,000 attendees. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to a long list of caring individuals who participated in panel discussions, displayed artwork and contributed their time and talent in a variety of ways. We are especially grateful to Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary Janet Napolitano for their keynote remarks at our Tenth Annual Day of Remembrance events in NYC.
This year we co-hosted several events in Washington, DC. Our staff worked with the Pentagon Memorial Fund and Pentagon Families and Survivors to hold an inaugural Information Forum and Commemorative Luncheon. We were also privileged to work with Dr. Stephen Flynn and the Center For National Policy to host the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit at the Newseum in Washington, DC. Governor Tom Kean and Congressman Lee Hamilton were recognized for their leadership in chairing the 9/11 Commission and the daylong event featured remarks by prominent political leaders and special guests. The summit highlighted documentary films featuring inspirational stories of resilience. A special thanks to Dan Chung, CEO of Fred Alger Management, Dana Tamuccio and Roman Gertsburg for participating in VOICES film, and to the film production company Take Part. View VOICES short form documentary film here.
The Tenth Anniversary was a milestone for our families and the nation, a time to reflect and honor the lives of our loved ones but also to look forward with renewed hope and resilience. While attending the Clinton Global Initiative last month, I had the privilege of hearing Desmond Tutu speak about the healing power of reconciliation. He attributed his success to "being carried on the shoulders of others" and because so many people are praying for him. Many of us have experienced this phenomena firsthand in our personal lives and in our work since 9/11. The strength of the human spirit and our resilience is due to the collective efforts of so many who see a value in supporting our efforts to make the world a better place. Families and friends have established hundreds of foundations in memory of their loved ones that benefit those in need through scholarships, the distribution of books, and the creation of non-profit organizations, to mention a few. Others have made significant contributions in their communities and around the world or focused on fighting the war on terrorism.
As I reflect on the past decade, VOICES has grown from a small support group in my home, to a vibrant organization providing services to over 13,000 families living in the U.S. and abroad. This year our website has had over 15 million hits and 500,000 unique visitors. Our success is due to hundreds of individuals who have supported our work over the years - our dedicated staff, volunteers, interns, elected officials and many generous financial supporters. All of us at VOICES remain committed to providing ongoing support services that promote resilience, to honoring the lives lost by working with families and survivors in the 9/11 Living Memorial Project, and to supporting public policy reforms that make our country safer. Your guidance and participation have been invaluable over the years. We are honored to know you and look forward to our continued work together!
Warm Regards
Mary Fetchet & The VOICES Staff
|
________________________________________________________________________________________
|
