THE OPENING OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL GARDEN
GROSVENOR SQUARE, LONDON
Thursday 11 September 2003
3.30 pm
We are gathered
here, from different nations and traditions of faith, to remember our loved
ones, friends and colleagues who were taken from us on September 11, 2001.
Two years ago today
the world came together in shock and grief as unimaginable events unfolded.
People all over the world watched in horror as the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon were struck by hijacked aircraft, and as a fourth aeroplane was
brought down in a Pennsylvanian field by its brave passengers.
We looked on in
disbelief as the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, killing not
only many people in the buildings, but also many of those those who had come to
save them.
In the days and
weeks that followed, thousands of friends and colleagues across the globe,
along with the families of those who died, struggled to come to terms with
their loss. Many gathered here in Grosvenor Square to lay flowers at the
Roosevelt Memorial, or to sign books of condolence. Church services were held
at St. Paulís Cathedral and elsewhere, including a British service at St.
Thomasís in New York, and on 29 November 2001 a special service was held at
Westminster Abbey for the victimsí families. One year on, family and friends
gathered again at St. Paulís Cathedral, as well as in the United States, to
remember.
As Grosvenor Square
became the focal point for the United Kingdomís grief and support for its
closest ally, it was felt to be the most appropriate setting for a memorial. It
is known as the ìAmerican Squareî with many historical associations to the
United States, including memorials to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, and the Eagle Squadron Pilots of the Second World War.
The design for the
garden emerged from discussions and consultations with the families of those
who died, and was inspired by the memorial services at St. Paulís, St. Thomasís
and Westminster Abbey. The planting includes species drawn from the flowers
used at the UK memorial services and those that have links with North America.
Some have been specially selected by family members.
Elements from all
the UK church services have been incorporated into todayís opening ceremony,
including the poignant Act of Remembrance from the Westminster Abbey service.
GRIEF IS THE PRICE
WE PAY FOR LOVE
As members of the
families take their seats, a rose will be presented to the nominated family
representatives to lay on the Memorial Stone during the Act of Remembrance.
Please ensure that
all mobile/cellular telephones and pagers are switched off.
Please do not take
photographs during the ceremony.
The music is
performed by the Thoresby Colliery Welfare Band.
Musical Director Mr
Stan Lippeatt
Soloist Mr Matthew
Challender
The Thoresby
Colliery Welfare Band was formed in 1948 and is based in the North
Nottinghamshire village of Edwinstowe. At one time the band would have been
made up of players who were employed in the coal industry, working at the
Thoresby Colliery (which is one of the very few Midlands collieries still
operating).
Today the players
in the band come from all walks of life. They are amateur musicians as well as
students, sales reps, bus drivers, bank clerks, plumbers, electricians,
teachers and ex-servicemen.
Before and during
the ceremony, the band will play familiar music from the British Isles and two
American pieces, one of which ñ ìCatskillsî ñ has particular connections with
New York State.
Music before the
ceremony
ìAmazing Graceî arr.
W. Himes
ìLondonderry Airî
arr. S. Roberts
ìYe Banks and
Braesî arr. A. Fernie
ìMyfanwyî arr. D.
Stephens
ìThe Day Thou
Gavestî arr. P. Wilby
Councillor Jan
Prendergast, the Rt Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster, is received at the
north-east gate.
All remain seated
The Rt Hon Tessa
Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, is received at the
north-east gate.
All remain seated
The American
Ambassador and Mrs William S. Farish are received at the north-east gate. They
are conducted to their seats.
All remain seated
Lord Imbert, the
Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, and Lady Imbert are received at the
north-east gate.
All remain seated
Her Royal Highness
The Princess Royal is received at the north-east gate by Lord Imbert, the Lord
Lieutenant of Greater London, and Lady Imbert who present the Rt Worshipful
Lord Mayor of Westminster, Mr William Weston Director of the Royal Parks, and
the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
All stand
All remain standing
as the American Ambassador and Mrs William S. Farish are presented to Her Royal
Highness The Princess Royal.
THE CEREMONY
All remain standing
to sing:
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Osay, can you see,
by the dawnís early light,
What so proudly we
hailíd at the twilightís last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes
and bright stars, throí the perilous fight,
Oíer the ramparts
we watchíd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocketís
red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof throí
the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that
star-spangled banner yet wave
Oíer the land of
the free and the home of the brave?
Francis Scott Key
(1779ñ1843)
All sit
Introduction and
welcome to Grosvenor Square by the Hon William S. Farish, Ambassador of the
United States of America to the Court of St Jamesís.
The Hon William S.
Farish invites those gathered to pause with him in a moment of silence to
remember all those who lost their lives in New York, Washington and
Pennsylvania two years ago.
All stand
All sit
ìCatskillsî Nigel
Hess arr. Phillip Littlemore
All remain seated
Dame Judi Dench
reads:
REMEMBER
REMEMBER me when I
am gone away,
Gone far away into
the silent land;
When you can no
more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to
go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no
more day by day
You tell me of our
future that you planned:
Only remember me;
you understand
It will be too late
to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should
forget me for a while
And afterwards
remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness
and corruption leave
A vestige of the
thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you
should forget and smile
Than that you
should remember and be sad.
Christina Georgina
Rossetti (1830ñ1894)
The Rt Hon Tessa
Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, invites Her Royal
Highness The Princess Royal to say a few words and formally open the Memorial
Garden.
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS
ROYAL
Her Royal Highness
The Princess Royal lays a rose on the Memorial Stone in an Act of Remembrance
for all those who lost their lives, and invites representatives from each
family to lay a rose in memory of their loved ones. Silence is kept.
ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
Firefighter James
Kerwin from Ladder 33 of the New York City Fire Department completes the Act of
Remembrance by laying a rose to commemorate all those members of the emergency
services who laid down their lives.
Miss Sophie Brandt,
September 11 Programme Officer for the British Red Cross, reads:
TIME is
Too Slow for those
who Wait,
Too Swift for those
who Fear,
Too Long for those
who Grieve,
Too Short for those
who Rejoice;
But for those who
Love,
Time is not.
Henry van Dyke
(1852ñ1933)
ìOld Creole Daysî
from the Mississippi Suite Ferde GrofÈ (1892ñ1972)
All stand
Lord Carey of
Clifton, former Archbishop of Canterbury, who delivered the Sermon at the
Westminster Abbey Service, reads:
WITH the stirring of
the wind and in the chill of winter;
under the blue sky
and in the warmth of summer:
All We remember them
With joys we long
to share and in sorrow we bear alone;
in work we have to
do and with life we have to give:
All We remember them
In treasured
memories of the past and during days to come:
All We remember them
In all that they
achieved and for all that might have been;
at the dawn of the
day and in the setting sun:
All We remember them
All remain standing
to sing
THE NATIONALANTHEM
GOD save our
gracious Queen,
Long live our noble
Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her
victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over
us,
God save the Queen!
Not in this land
alone,
But be Godís
mercies known
From shore to
shore!
Lord, may the
nations see,
That we in unity
Should form one
family
The wide world
oíer.
Music after the
ceremony:
ìGabrielís Oboeî
Emio Morricone arr. David Bertie
ìAve Mariaî Giulio
Caccini arr. D. Johnson
The Rt Hon Tessa
Jowell invites Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal,
The American
Ambassador and Mrs William S. Farish to view the garden.
Guests are requested to remain seated after the ceremony until invited to retire to the marquee by the stewards; the garden will be available for viewing later.