October 14, 2011
Dear Families and Friends,
The Tenth Anniversary was a busy and emotional time for us all. Whether you gathered at the Memorials in New York City, Washington, DC or in Shanksville, Pa, or attended memorial events in your community or chose to reflect privately, this anniversary was a challenging time for each of us. One of the most valuable lessons I've learned in my own family and through conversations with many of you, each of our journeys is different, we grieve differently and have unique timetables in our healing process. Now that the anniversary has passed, many have expressed a sense of relief in moving beyond this milestone event.
After planning several anniversary events, VOICES staff is now focused on scheduling our fall calendar of events. During the month of October we will be resuming our 9/11 Living Memorial workshops in our Connecticut and New Jersey offices. If you haven't participated in the Living Memorial project, we encourage you to schedule an appointment to begin this very important process of creating a meaningful tribute to your loved one that will inspire all those who visit the museum when it opens in 2012. To schedule an appointment in our New Canaan, CT office contact Michelle Doherty at 203-966-3911, or contact Sheri Burkat at 732-543-2300 to schedule an appointment in our New Brunswick, NJ office. Later this month we will be releasing a schedule in other locations in the northeast.
Over the next few weeks, our newsletter will highlight some of the anniversary events VOICES was involved with. We would also like to feature some of the tenth anniversary events held in your communities as well as any upcoming events you'd like us to share with the 9/11 community. Please send information about the event, photographs and newspaper articles to our Communications Director, Susan Dahill at sdahill@voicesofsept11.org.
As always, feel free to contact us if we can be of any assistance. We hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather and look forward to hearing from you!
Warm Regards
Mary Fetchet & The VOICES Staff
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
9/11 Living Memorial
Workshop Appointments
New Canaan, Connecticut
Monday - Friday
10:00am to 3:00pm
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Monday - Thursday
9:00am to 3:00pm
For a full schedule of upcoming
workshop appointments Click Here.
VOICES Teleconference Schedule
Tuesday, October 18th:
Rockland In-Person Group
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Wednesday, October 19th:
Siblings' Group
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Tuesday, October 25th:
Witness/Survivors' Group
4:00pm to 5:00pm
For a full schedule of upcoming teleconference groups Click Here.
For a complete list of events visit our website at www.voicesofsept11.org.
To add an event to our calendar contact newsletters@voicesofsept11.org.
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9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit in Washington DC - September 8th
 On September 8th, the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit in Washington, DC was held at the Newseum in Washington, DC. The day-long summit was cosponsored by Voices of September 11th, the Center for National Policy and was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. Guest speakers included political leaders, dignitaries, 9/11 survivors, FEMA administrators, Coast Guard members and more. The discussions centered on a series of documentaries, including one produced by VOICES and Take Part entitled "Voices." The film features VOICES founder, Mary Fetchet; the CEO of Fred Alger Management, Dan Chung; and family members Dana Tamuccio and Roman Gertsberg. You can view the 13 minute film Here. The theme of Remembrance, Renewal and Resilience was also told in the six short form documentaries that were shown and in the panel discussions that followed. You can see all the films on the Road to Resilience website, http://www.road2resilience.org. |
Empty Sky Memorial in New Jersey - September 10th
 New Jersey's official 9/11 memorial opened on Saturday, September 10th after a solemn dedication attended by more than 3,000 people. The "Empty Sky" memorial, named after a Bruce Springsteen song inspired by the loss of life on 9/11, bears the names of those who died at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. The commemoration included a slide show presentation, created by VOICES, of the more than 750 residents from New Jersey lost on 9/11. The slide show can now be seen at the New Jersey State Museum. If you haven't submitted a photo yet, the slideshow will be updated regularly. Please contace Sheri Burkat at sburkat@voicesofsept11.org or 732-543-2300. |
Washington DC 9/11 Information Forum and Luncheon - September 10th
 VOICES held its first 9/11 Information Forum and Luncheon in the Washington DC area for families, survivors and rescue workers of those lost on 9/11. The program was presented in partnership with the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Fund. 9/11 family member Kathy Dillaber and survivor Laurie Kemp helped to coordinate the event, along with VOICES staff members and volunteers. WABC-TV reporter Diana Williams interviewed Pentagon family members and members of the VOICES staff about why it was important to host this inaugural event. Watch the videos: Remembering 9/11 at the Pentagon and Pentagon prepares to mark September 11th. |
Paint by Number Project - September 10th and 11th
 Family members of those lost on 9/11, survivors and rescue workers all participated in a project to remember the events of 9/11 by painting a section of the "Gone But Not Forgotten" canvas designed by artist Dan Robbins of Palmer Paints. The Paint By Number corner of the exhibit space was lively with people showing their artistry while sharing stories of their experiences over the last ten years.
Those interested in creating their own version of the Paint By Number commemorative painting, can order a kit by connecting to the order form here. |
The Office of Justice Programs' 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony - September 14th
 The Office of Justice Programs held a 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at their office in Washington DC. The speakers included Kathryn Turman, Program Director of the Office for Victim Assistance in the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Mary and Frank Fetchet of Voices of September 11th. Kathryn Turner spoke about responding to 9/11 and lessons learned. Mary and Frank Fetchet spoke about VOICES' work to provide information and long term support services for all those impacted by the attacks on 9/11. |
Ceremony Honoring Connecticut's 9/11 First Responders and Volunteers - September 14th
 The Connecticut U.S. Attorney's office, the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and Voices of September 11th hosted the ceremony as a show of gratitude for emergency workers who rushed to the World Trade Center site a decade ago. Held at the 9/11 Memorial at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, speakers included Governor Dan Malloy and VOICES Board member, Bonnie McEneaney. To read more about it click here. Watch the videos: Governor Dan Malloy and Bonnie McEneaney. |
Clinton Global Initiative 2011 Annual Meeting - September 20th - September 22th
 VOICES Executive Director Mary Fetchet was honored to represent VOICES at the Clinton Global Initiative. The CGI Annual Meeting is an invitation-only event held each September in New York City for heads of state, chief executives of companies, directors of major nonprofits, and other global leaders. For four days, members make new connections and share insights and ideas. They learn about creative approaches and hear from inspiring speakers from different sectors, different countries, and different points of view. They analyze what works, and what doesn't. Then they take that knowledge and use it to create programs that effect meaningful and lasting change in the world. |
9/11 Community Events of Interest |
Ira Block 9/11 Photography Exhibit at Foto Care - October 19th
 The internationally renowned photojournalist, Ira Block, will have a show on October 19 that will include his photographs taken at the World Trade Center site as well as more recent photos of the 9/11 Memorial and of survivors of the attacks. It will include those taken for a recent National Geographic story whose goal was to" create some kind of positive look for the 10th anniversary." Block said that "we decided that portraits of the people who escaped the devastation, along with their personal stories of survival and how they have now moved on with their lives, would honor the resilience of the human spirit". The event will take place at Foto Care Rentals, 43 West 22nd Street from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. RSVP to rsvp@fotocare.com.
Rising Phoenix - 9/11 Dance Tribute- November 6th
 On Sunday, November 6th at 1:00 PM, the Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick, NJ will present a tribute in dance to the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Free tickets are available to family members, survivors and rescue workers. Contact: Elise at elicounts@yahoo.com. |
GAO: U.S. Still Lags on Terrorism Info Sharing
New presidential order aims to shore up the government's intelligence Information Sharing Environment.
Despite making some significant progress in the last several years, the federal government still lacks an efficient system for sharing terrorist intelligence information among agencies and other entities that need access to it, according to a government watchdog agency. More.
NYPD officers dead after 9/11 are honored on wall
NEW YORK (AP) — Nine New York Police Department officers who became ill after working at the World Trade Center site in the Sept. 11 recovery effort and then died have been honored at the city's Police Memorial Wall. More.
Visit VOICES In The News for articles and announcements of interest to the 9/11 community. |
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©2009 Voices of September 11th. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
VOICES of September 11th is a nonpartisan advocacy group that provides services and advocates for all those affected by September 11th; promotes public policy reform on prevention, preparedness and response to terrorism; and builds bridges between international communities changed by terrorism. In 2006, VOICES launched the 9/11 Living Memorial digital archive that commemorates the lives and stories of September 11, 2001. |
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