Remembering September 11

Remembering September 11

September 11, 2001.

Is there anyone who lived through that day who does not remember where they were on 9/11?

We were living in the Washington, DC, area. The Pentagon was hit. Friends were inside. Who can forget the Twin Towers going down?  A shocked world watched on television as the scene was played over and over.

My son was on a Lufthansa flight scheduled to land at Dulles Airport at 1:30 pm on September 11, 2001. After spending a week in Gander, Newfoundland, he finally made it home for Rosh Hashana, but that is a story for another time.

In 2009, the Blank Family dedicated a special memorial in the hills of Jerusalem, Israel, as a “reminder of shared loss and a call for peace among nations.”

Each year, an US-Israel joint memorial commemoration is held on September 11th.  However, with the second day of Rosh Hashana falling on 9/11, this year the event was held on the Thursday before.

Israeli memorial for victims of September 11

The memorial, located in a JNF-KKL park in the hills of Jerusalem, is the only one outside the United States that lists all the names of victims.

Representatives of different groups are invited each year. This year Sar-El, Muss High School, and Nefesh BeNefesh were among the guests who came on special buses, and passed through layers of special security.

 

Jerusalem 9/11 memorial honor guard

Here the US Honor Guard readies its flags to march in and begin the memorial program.

JNF-KKL memorial outside Jerusalem Israel for victims of 9/11

The Honor Guard and all guests stood for the the US anthem. A special cover was constructed to shield the gathering from the midday sun. This year was not too hot, but plenty of water was provided nonetheless.

View of US and Israeli flags at 9/11 memorial in Jerusalem

From the memorial you can see across Route One to the main Jerusalem cemetery, and in the distance, the  Hadassah Hospital complex in Ein Karem is visible.

US flag shaped as a flame for Israeli September 11 memorial

The main monument depicts an US flag in shape of a flame. The impressive thirty-foot-high bronze sculpture was created by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff and landscape architect Yechiel Cohen.

The annual program began with the Kaddish, the prayer recited for the departed, recited by a close relative of a victim, on behalf of all those who fell.

Israeli US memorial for victims of September 11

MK Nachman Shai spoke representing the Israeli government.

Other speakers included diplomatic representatives, JNF-KKL leaders, and family members of victims.

US Ambassador David Friedman at September 11 commemoration in Jerusalem

Ambassador David Friedman was presented with a framed photo of the US flag taken in front of the destroyed NYC building by a witness.

Piece from Twin Towers in monument to victims of September 11

Inside the memorial, partially concealed behind the podium, is a piece of metal salvaged from the site of the destroyed towers.

Military and Fire wreathes for memorial ceremony Jerusalem, Israel

After the speeches. representatives of the military, fire and police assisted with the placing of memorial wreaths.

Amb. David and Tammy Friedman stand after placing a wreathe at Israel-US September 11 memorial

After placing a wreath, Ambassador and Tammy Friedman paused for a moment of silence.

Wreathes at base of September 11 memorial

At the end of the formal program, all the wreaths were placed at the base of the memorial.

United Airline pilots place flowers at memorial for victims of September 11

Flowers were available to place by the names of fallen. These United Airlines pilots stopped to reflect and remember.

Remembrance and Rosh Hashana were significant topics in Ambassador  Friedman’s remarks.

Jerusalem memorial to victims of September 11 flowers placed on names of murdered.

Remembering the victims.

View of fast rain bridge from park near September 11 memorial in hills of Jerusalem Israel

As the bus slowly traveled back up the winding narrow park road, the bridge for the new Jerusalem-Tel Aviv fast train towered overhead.

On the other side of the support pillars, the new Jerusalem highway winds around the mountainside.

People will be able to access the 9/11 memorial more easily in the future, as the park is currently being developed to be more family-friendly.

Wishing all a good new year.

Additional photos post on Facebook HERE

Jerusalem 9/11 Memorial: Behind the Camera

15 years have past

since September 11, 2001,

but I can still remember the bluest, clearest sky,

and best weather on that day in Washington, DC.

We had moved back from New York City a few days earlier.

Having a blue sky in Jerusalem, Israel, is a given all summer,

no one moves to DC for the weather.

There was a good reason that foreign diplomats stationed in DC

received hazard pay in the days before air conditioning.

But it was so nice that morning,

I went for a walk as work was being done on our new kitchen.

The destruction of the twin towers of the WTC

and with its immense loss of life

has overshadowed the loss of life at

 the Pentagon, the heart of the US military command.

For those of us living in the DC area,

the attack on the Pentagon affected our family and friends

in too many ways to recount here now.

 The 15th anniversary of 9/11 was remembered in Israel.

Buses took passengers from Jerusalem on a round-about route,

under the new fast-train tracks under construction

towards the JNF-KKY Jerusalem Park,

Jerusalem JNF park Memorial 9 11

slowly and cautiously down the winding road.

After an hour on the bus

we were on the other side of the tracks

Jerusalem train track Israel

and across from the cemetery on Har Hamenuchot.

Jerusalem memorial sept eleven

Dignitaries and guests waited in the memorial plaza for the program to begin.

Jerusalem Israel JNF memorial

The names of all 2,996 victims are listed on the wall.

The only memorial outside of US to list all the names.

Jerusalem Nine Eleven memorial

The honor guard in full dress

was positioned cleverly in front of the cool air blowers

and were protected by the sun shade.

Jerusalem memorial for 9 11 , 15 years

What were the Marines thinking?

Jerusalem Israel September 11 memorial

Israeli families of victims placed a floral memorial wreath

as did Israeli and international dignitaries.

Jerusalem memorial for September 11

US Ambassador Dan Shapiro stood in respect

 after placing his wreath at the base of the memorial

fashioned in the design of a US flag shaped as a flame.

A piece from the Twin Towers is encased in the base,

and can be seen through the rectangular window above those wreaths.

Jerusalem Israel memorial to killed on September 11

After the official ceremony,

with all its impressive speeches this year,

flowers were provided to those who wished to place them

on the names in memory of those who lost their lives on 9 /11.

Jerusalem Israel 9-11 memorial ceremony for 15 years police delegation

A delegation of 50 US police officers were in attendance.

Jerusalem memorial Sept 11

Their hats and uniforms were imprinted with US and Israeli flags.

There was a positive feeling of unity

that is not felt often enough these days.

As WJC President Ronald Lauder said,

 “The pain of loss never goes away,

but happiness comes from freedom,

and free people rise over hate.

#NeverForget

More photos from ceremony

HERE