The Persistence of Memory

Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T18:29:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. This is a time of year that we reflect back upon the many blessings we have received and are grateful.
Thinking back on the year past, I can’t help thinking about my many friends and the many new ones that I have met or heard from.
I’m grateful for my friends and of course for my family. I’m thankful that my Mom and Dad brought my sister and I into a wonderful community and gave us a very meaningful childhoood with good family values as well as a love of our country and its people.
I think of my Grandma and Grandpa and the life they had coming to this great country of ours. I think of how they raised their children to be respectful, honest and hardworking even during the difficult times.
I am grateful that I have been able to do the things that I have done. I like to think I have motivated others to do the same.
I’m grateful to have had the pleasure to speak to so many of our Military Men and Women. They will be in my thoughts tomorrow.
We all have a special gift to give, make sure to share yours.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Lee

Veteran's Day Tribute

2011-11-10T18:21:00.002-05:00

Hi all,
This morning I was filled with American pride to speak before over 1,500 students who are here in New York City taking part in Veteran’s Day. "The Band of Pride Tribute" concert led by Dr .Kenneth Dye, musical director of The University of Notre Dame took place from 7:30am-9am on Thursday, November 10th at Duffy Square in the heart of New York City's Times Square, as a way to jump start the day of remembrance and patriotism. Many of the students who performed will proudly march, on Veteran's Day, in the 92nd NYC Veterans Day Parade along its historic Fifth Avenue Route in New York City.

This morning I shared with them how easy for me to turn to hatred in response to my son Jonathan being killed on 9/11, but I don’t even like the word ‘hatred’. I like the words ‘education’ and ‘enlightenment’. We need to provide education about 9/11 for all young people so they can learn what happened on 9/11 and how to make tomorrow a better day. I think we should not be afraid to talk about radical Islamic fundamentalists and we should understand that they do not represent the millions of Muslim people around the world who do not support acts of terrorism. Tomorrow on Veteran’s Day when you step off and play your first note on your instruments, play it loud and the best you have ever played - many will be listening like these behind me in uniform, and those who are deployed around the world, those who have been wounded and for those who are no longer here with us so they can hear you to.

God bless you, God Bless our men and women in uniform and yes God Bless America.
Lee

9/11: The World Speaks

2011-10-21T17:52:00.003-04:00

Hi all,
Many good things have happened this year, and I want to share with you one that I am most proud of being a small part. At the Tribute Center we published a book, 9/11: The World Speaks. It provides a very hopeful look at the state of the world 10 years after September 11, 2001. The book is hopeful because it contains heartfelt messages from people in countries large and small of a desire to teach young people about the essential value of mutual respect among cultures and religions. Ordinary people, expressing their thoughts and feelings in words, drawings and verse, challenge us to find successful ways to live together on this small planet.

The book 9/11: The World Speaks came about from our collection of visitor cards left at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center by visitors from around the world over the past 5 year. Before visitors leave our galleries, they are offered the opportunity to share their stories and reflections. We have been surprised by the honesty and sentiment in the more than 200,000 cards collected to date and wanted to share some of them with the public. I was motivated by a teacher this week who told me that she has shared the book with her students as a way to undersand other cultures and perspectives of 9/11. Here is a review of the book that was recently posted on Amazon’s website. Please share your thoughts with us also.

Be well,
Lee

"9-11: The World Speaks" brings together global voices and perspectives on the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and helps us understand the events of that day, and its complex aftermath, on a human scale. It is more than a thoughtful collection of reactions to tragedy, however. Instead, "The World Speaks" is a collective meditation on our shared humanity, a tribute to the power of hope, and a call to find the good in each other and ourselves.
-- Mike Dillon, Ph.D., Duquesne University

Thank You!

2011-10-05T16:46:00.001-04:00

Hi all,

We at Tribute thought that the Tenth Anniversary year would be very busy for us, but we never expected just how busy it would really be. We are deeply grateful to the reporters from all over the world who came and interviewed us and encouraged us to tell our stories. The stories we told were not just stories of our horrible experiences 10 years ago, but stories of the way we have been inspired to live better lives because of our experiences. We talked about the Tribute WTC Visitor Center providing all of us with a place where we can connect one-on-one with people who come from every corner of the globe to express their empathy and to tell us they tell their children that we need to live respectfully with each other whatever our differences may be. We told reporters about our commitment to encouraging teachers to teach 9/11 in their classrooms, and how pleased we are that educators are recognizing the importance of teaching 9/11 to a generation has no memory of the attacks. We proudly introduced reporters to our volunteer guides (over 480 trained) who share their personal stories of 9/11 with both students and adults who are coming to the World Trade Center on a daily basis.

I am so grateful to our volunteers for their dedication to keeping the stories of 9/11 alive. I’d like to share this quote that expresses exactly what I feel:

"There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. With it beats the spirit of service, generosity and compassion and the health and well being of our community, our country and our would." ~ Kobi Yamada

I urge you all to think about ways you can help make a difference.

Lee

Remembering the Devastation in Japan

2011-03-25T21:12:00.003-04:00

Hello my good friends,

I have been very moved and saddened by the unbelievable scenes from Japan in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and Tsunami. The loss of life is staggering. Although it is difficult, we should try to learn and draw strength from the good that comes after a disaster. What has inspired me, and what we all should be looking to and learning from, is the willpower of the Japanese people to persevere in the face of such a catastrophic loss of life.

I would like to share an email from a good friend who also lost his son on 9/11. My heartfelt prayers go out to him and his family and to all the people of Japan as they begin the long journey of recovery and rebuilding. May they have the strength and support from around the world as we received after 9/11.

Dear Meriam, Jennifer, Lee.

Thank you for your e-mail. The earthquake brought some effect for us, but generally say we are well. About our family, our younger son are living in Fukushima city, not far from the nuclear power station. His wife and girl, our grand daughter, are came and stayed with wife's family in Tokyo, but he returned to Fukushima city. The power station being continued to suppress in very critical condition.

Almost 9.11 families living west area from Tokyo, but one family are living Ibaraki prefecture, next to Fukushima pref. so I confirmed by call that they are well.

About quake and tsunami disaster, north east coast of Japan were utterly destroyed. All cities and towns are lost perfectly, in spite of their preparedness for tsunami.

At present about 10,000 persons are confirmed dead and about 20,000 are missing.

The disaster occur very broad area and damages are so big. It's recall me the situation after 2nd World War. But we, especially Tohoku people, will overcome like the after war we did so.

If you would like to donate to support the victims of the earthquake and tsunami allow me to recommend two places:

Japan Earthquake Relief Fund

“Japan Society has created a disaster relief fund to aid victims of the Tohoku earthquake in Japan. Over the years, Japan Society has partnered with several Japanese and American non-profits working on the frontlines of disaster relief and recovery. 100% of your generous tax-deductible contributions will go to organization(s) that directly help victims recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunamis that struck Japan on March 11, 2011.” Their web-site is http://www.japansociety.org/earthquake.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

MSF Response to Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

“MSF has sent medical teams to support the government-led earthquake and tsunami response in Japan. Our teams are running mobile clinics and conducting needs assessments, which will determine the full scope of MSF's response.” “At this point, MSF USA is drawing on unrestricted donations given to MSF to fund our efforts, and MSF USA is not accepting donations specifically earmarked for recovery efforts in Japan. We greatly appreciate your generosity and encourage your support of our work. We will continue to post updates our homepage, Facebook, andTwitter as new information becomes available.” Their web-site is http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/overview.cfm?ref=main-menu

Be well,

Lee

P.S. Please remember our men and women in uniform.

Seventh Anniversary of the Madrid Train Bombings

2011-03-11T16:29:00.005-05:00

Hi all,

Today, March 11, 2011, marks the 7th Anniversary of the 2004 Madrid train bombings on passenger trains approaching the Atocha Train Station that killed 192 innocent people and wounded 1,800. Ten explosions occurred on 4 commuter trains during the morning rush hours. Three more bombs were found later in the day. Demolition teams detonated 2 of them and the last one was found in a luggage compartment.

The September 11th Families' Association/Tribute Visitor Center sends our support and condolences to the victims and their families' of this vicious attack. A senseless attack on innocent civilians must never be forgotten or tolerated.

Lee

Looking Foward to Spring

2011-02-18T16:46:00.005-05:00

Hi all,

Well I guess we are all looking forward to a long weekend. President's Day of course means looking back at our passed presidents and saying “Thank You For A Job Well Done.” Also, on Friday, February 25, we will be having our Fourth Annual Teacher Awards at the Tribute Center, where five teachers from Jamaica, Queens; Goshen, NY; Great Neck, Long Island; Ulster County, NY; and Baltimore, Maryland will be awarded a gift and certificate for their 9/11-related school project. And while you're at it, take a look at our teacher's toolkit resource guide on our website, http://www.tributewtc.org/programs/toolkit.html .

It also means that spring is just around the corner. We can start to plant some cold weather vegies in March. I can’t wait for the Striped Bass to come back in March as well.

Something even more important is happening. School groups are now scheduling tours for the Tribute Center and walking tours. I just love talking to them and so do our guides. For the last week or so, we are seeing 2,3,4, groups every day and the list just gets longer every week. If you would like to get involved with some, give us a call or see our web-site, http://www.tributetwc.org/ for more details.

Lastly, I have a number of other great things that I want to tell you about. I hope to have more time to write about them soon.

Have a GREAT weekend and remember those Presidents, and our troops,

Lee

Touching Base

2011-02-04T15:52:00.001-05:00

Hi my friends,

I sure wish I was able to write a blog every day but we at the September 11th Families’ Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Center have become extremely busy. As we approach the Tenth Anniversary of September 11, 2001 the demand for information, documentaries, personal stories, and memorials continues to grown and that coupled with our regular, everyday business means we are very busy here. But, as I have said many times before, “it’s a good busy”. If you have some thoughts about what you would like to see for the Tenth Anniversary, please let me know.

I hope to be back to regular blogging soon, I have many things to tell you, Tenth Anniversary up-dates, my trip to Italy, many world events, Tribute events, and public programs.

‘Till the next time, please explore our classroom materials at www.tributewtc.org/programs/toolkit.html and pass them along to friends and family who work in education.

Remember, only through education, worldwide, can tomorrow be a better day.

Lee

A Special Thank You

2011-01-21T17:18:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Let me thank two young ladies from our office, Lauren Lombardo, who has moved on to advance her education, and Laura Mulcahey, who have helped me learn the in’s and out’s of a blog and Facebook. Without their help all of you, my dear friends, would never have had the pleasure of reading my writing. Well I hope it’s a pleasure???

We’ve been blessed to have such wonderful people work on our staff. We have also been blessed to have thousands of people pass through the Tribute Center and take our tours.

For your information, Tribute is open 7 days a week. Monday to Saturday from 10: AM to 6: PM, Sunday from 12:PM to 5: PM. Tours are given 7 days a week, Sunday through Friday there are 5 tours daily, 6 on Saturday.

Lee

The "9/11 London Project"

2011-01-11T10:58:00.002-05:00

Photo of Potters Fields London

On November 29, 2010, Jennifer Adams, Chief Executive Officer for the September 11th Families’ Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Center, and I left for London. Our mission was straightforward: help the “9/11 London Project” founder Peter Rosengard with the project’s first fundraiser.

The “9/11 London Project” is an educational project using a 27-foot long piece of World Trade Center steel recovered from the wreckage of the Twin Towers. The steel will be displayed in Central London's Potters Fields Park alongside the Thames River, beside Tower Bridge and London’s City Hall. The area dates back to 100 AD. More recently it was known for the production of English Delftware pottery. Potters Fields was also traditionally a cemetery for unknown or poor people. Once a graveyard with several burial sites, some of the gravestones are still visible from the Tooley Street entrance.

The “9/11 London Project” mission is focused on the education and enlightenment of the events of September 11, 2001 and what lead up to them. Peter and his Board of Directors are committed to this project and they know full well the importance of education. On Thursday, July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers struck in central London. Three bombs went off at or around 0850 BST on underground trains just outside Liverpool Street and Edgware Road stations, and on another train travelling between King's Cross and Russell Square. The final explosion was around an hour later on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, not far from King's Cross. These explosions killed 52 people and injuring more than 770.

It was quite an honor to be part of this great undertaking. As you all know, our main concern is the lack of education about September 11, 2001. This is true in the UK as well. Consequently, this project is near and dear to our hearts.

To Make a Difference in the World

2011-01-07T12:20:00.006-05:00

Hi All,

I wanted to share 2 special cards that we received from visitors at the first of the year. Each of these people writes about the importance of talking about September 11th with young people, and presenting the discussion from a perspective that gives young people hope for the future.

Noah from Florida wrote:

B, North Carolina wrote:

Have a good weekend.

Lee

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-30T17:06:00.003-05:00

Hi All,

The year 2010 passed in record-breaking time. Wait a minute; didn't that happen last year and the year before and the year before? Can we slow time down some? I don't think so but we can make a difference, can't we? Let me pass along some thoughts of mine and other's, so that we can perhaps make a difference this coming year.

When you say, "I love you" mean it. --- Believe in love at first sight. --- Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely. --- Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk. --- Call mom and dad and other family members. --- Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze. --- Never laugh at someone, only with them. --- When you lose, don't lose the lesson. --- Remember the three R's: Respect for yourself; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions. --- A loving atmosphere in your home is very important. --- Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. When you make a mistake, take steps to correct it. --- Read more books and watch less TV. --- Live an honorable life. When you think back, you will enjoy it a second time. --- Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality. --- Be gentle with the earth. --- If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction. --- Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other. --- Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. Trust in God but lock your car. --- And most importantly, Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

Wishing you all a Healthly and Prosperous New Year,
Lee

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-23T15:20:00.003-05:00

Isn't it wonderful as we pass through this bright, joyful season and approach the Christmas Holiday, everyone has a festive and cheerful feeling about them. It is a very special time of the year. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could carry that feeling with us throughout the year? Regardless of our faith, we feel as one right now.

From all of us at the September 11th Families' Association/ Tribute WTC Visitor Center, we wish you all a joyous Christmas, Happy Holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year and may our men and women in uniform find peace this season.

Lee

The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Visits Tribite

2010-12-16T16:47:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, December 15, Tribute was honored to receive a visit from Mr. Hisashi Tokunaga, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was in New York City briefly for a meeting at the United Nations, but who arranged time to come down to see the galleries of the Tribute Center. Mr. Tokunaga was accompanied by Mr. Katsukhiko Takahashi, who works on behalf of the Japanese government in Baghdad, and Mr. Yutaka Arima, who works at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations in NYC. The visit was arranged by the Japanese Consulate in NY.

Photo from left to Right: Mr. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ms. Jennifer Adams, Mr. Hisashi Tokunaga, Mr. Yutaka Arima

Zadroga 9/11 Health Bill Fails in Congress

2010-12-09T16:22:00.003-05:00

Hi All,

Something extremely important happened today in Washington, D.C. The 9/11 Health Care Bill, also known as the Zadroga Bill, was voted down before the Senate. Many are calling it a national disgrace. Click here to read more.

Lee

Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

2010-12-07T13:10:00.003-05:00

Today is a very special day for our Country and us. December 7, 1941 marked the start of World War II and took the lives of many of our brave men and women. The death toll worldwide during the War was staggering, but what is additionally staggering, are the hundreds of thousands that carried their wounds for years, whether outwardly or within. Many brave citizens answered the call for our Country. Let us all give thanks to our men and women who continue to respond to that same call today.

God Bless.
Lee

New Display of Visitor Cards

2010-12-02T10:15:00.017-05:00

Hi All,

Today the curators are putting up a new display of visitor cards in the Tribute Center's gallery. All of the cards that people write (over 175,000 since Tribute opened) are read and sorted. Several times a year, we put up new groups of cards written by children, parents, and visitors from around the world. Here are three. They are respectively from Ontario, Canada; Thailand; and the United Kingdom.

Best,

Lee

Wishing You All A Wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T09:27:00.004-05:00

Dear Friend,

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, families across the United Stated will sit down together and give thanks.

I'll be giving thanks for my family - for all the love they have brought into my life - and for friends like you, who through your kind support, have become an integral part of the Tribute Center community.

Tomorrow is also a day to remember those who cannot sit down to break bread with those they love. We miss everyone we lost on September 11, 2001 and the many brave men and women who have died while serving our country. We pay special thanks to the men and women in uniform here and overseas who continue to help keep us out of harms way.

I also want to use this occasion to give thanks to the 392 wonderful volunteer guides who make the Tribute Center such a special, unique place. We are thankful for their dedication, creating a powerful and moving experience for the visitors they meet in the galleries and take on walking tours. Many of our volunteers have given hundreds of tours and some travel here from as far away as Virginia, Massachusetts, Canada, and California. Without their dedication and service, we would not be able to share the stories of Septmeber 11, 2001 with visitors from around the world.

I would also like to thank the hundreds of visitors like you who chose to come to the Tribute Center to learn more about the events of September 11th. This year, we are grateful to have welcomed 500,000 visitors from around the world who have shared their support and hope for the future.

With warmest wishes for a happy holiday season from the Tribute Center family to yours.

Best,
Lee

P.S. As you gather around the dinner table, tell a story that makes you happy or grateful and watch as your family smiles.

Public Program at Trinity Chruch on December 5

2010-11-19T09:28:00.006-05:00

Hey All,

Let me tell you about a public program we are co-sponsoring with Trinity Church, here in downtown Manhattan.

On Sunday, December 5 at 1pm, Trinity Church and the Tribute WTC Visitor Center will present Remarkable Humanity in the Service of Others, a free public program featuring two inspiring women, Susan Retik and Maureen Fanning, (Jack Fanning was a Battalion Chief and was a good friend of mine) whose husbands were killed on September 11th and who have responded with ground-breaking projects that make the world a more compassionate, tolerant place. Both Susan Retik and Maureen Fanning created organizations that give opportunity and hope to people - one through programs here in New York and the other in Afghanistan.

It's quite an honor to say I know both. Their inspiration and dedication has motivated many people to think about tomorrow in a positive way. They live in the spirit of Tribute that tomorrow can and must be better by learning from yesterday.

Please make every effort to attend this inspiring event. The event of free and will be held in the Parlor Room at 74 Trinity Place. Seating is large, but also limited, so please RSVP immediately to rsvp@tributewtc.org if you plan to come.

Lee

USS New York is Back at Sea

2010-11-16T16:31:00.005-05:00

Hi All,

Great news! The USS New York is done with its trials and repairs. She set sail last night. We received an e-mail from the Commander, Curt Jones, and to say that he was excited would be an understatement. There was some extensive work that had to be done and the entire crew was chomping at the bit to get underway. Unknown destination, but she is out to sea. If you would like to say hello or pass along your best wishes, you can go to their facebook, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Norfolk-VA/USS-NEW-YORK-LPD-21/113468238587, and do so.

While we are are on a military note, we had another group of wounded vets (always important to emphasize that these vets are Men and Women, age's 17 and up) come to the Tribute Center. Its important to tell them thanks for your service.

And while we are talking about greeting these great people, you can help us to do just that. We are looking to enlarge our volunteer staff, our guides that give tours every day. These folks come from what we call the 9/11 community. That's folks that lost a loved one, rescue/recovery worker, survivors and those that worked here and watched on 9/11. We have trained over 375 volunteer guides to date. There are other opportunities to help as well. Please think about joining our very special group of people. You can call Nancy Gamerman at 212-422-3520 ext.112 and while your at it, please go to our website, http://www.tributewtc.org/walktours/meet.php, for more information on volunteering and there, you can also download a volunteer application.

Lee

Commemorating Veterans' Day

2010-11-10T16:29:00.007-05:00

Hi My Friends,

These past few months, as we appraoch Veterans' Day, it always seems to bring a strong sense of "Thank You." Once again, we've had many wounded veterans (18, 19, 20, 21, 22-year-olds) come to the Tribute Center to learn more about what happened to people on September 11th and to better understand for themselves why they volunteered to join the military and to go fight in the war. These men and women come home with different thoughts about the world we live in because of their expereinces at the battlefront. This past Tuesday, at one of our programs, "Soldiers' Stories from the Front" which we co-presented with the NYU Military Alliance, we had the privilege of listening to veterans who are expressing themselves in writing through participation in a workshop at NYU. Their pieces were powerful, they were sad, moving, and inspirational and all written from the heart. I thought I would pass along an excerpt of just one Marine's beautifully crafted expressions:

They return. They are always returning. They rest, they see their families. They leave their families. They train again, they deploy again, they return again.

In Kandahar they steel against wind that has swept off glaciers in the Hindu Kush. It rushes unchecked over empty desert before cutting into them. Their hands freeze when they touch their M16s, and they leave chunks of flesh on the trigger guards.

They return to their homes. Then they return to their units.

In Najaf their sweat dries as it leaves their pores, sending salt licks streaking down their clothes. They fire high velocity rounds through air that is twenty degrees hotter than the blood they spill, and they keep intravenous needles taped into their forearms, the points embedded beneath their skin. When their brains start to boil the docs hook up IV tubing, pump saline solution straight to their veins, and return them to the fight.

Then they return to America. To children born while they were overseas. To green grass. To Vietnam vets buying them beers in their hometowns. And then they return to Iraq.

In Fallujah they throw grenades before they walk through each doorway. They say, enter every room with a boom. When a whole building is cleared, they spray paint an X over the front In three weeks they leave 30,000 Xs. They suffer six hundred and nine wounded. These return early. They suffer seventy dead.

The rest return to shopping malls and strip clubs, the windows blacked against daylight and empty parking lot. They return to fast food and high fructose corn syrup. To restaurant chains and prepackaged meals.

They return to reality TV, the NY Times, Fox News, and the Huffington Post. They return to celebrity gossip, to peace protests, war protests, anti-tax rallies, anti-abortion rallies, pro-abortion rallies, political ads, daytime television, beauty mags, titty mags, internet porn, and Youtube videos. They return to hundreds of channels. They return to home shopping.

They leave, they return, they leave again.

Written by Philip Klay, former Marine who served in Iraq's Anbar Province, participant in the NYU Veterans Writing Workshop.

Downtown Culture Pass

2010-11-05T08:43:00.006-04:00

Hi All,

A great new project that is currently taking place for the downtown area. It's called the Downtown Culture Pass. There are so many downtown museums and cultural attractions that the general public and many visitors just don't know about. So, to help promote them and many others, we have all come together to help spread the word. Starting November 4, 2010 through February 28, 2011 for the single price of $25 for adults (18+), $15 for youths (13-17) and $5 for children (6-12), the Downtown Culture Pass will grant each ticket holder unlimited admission and/or other discounted benefits for three full days to any and all participating museums, plus discounted tours conducted by Wall Street Walks.

The pass may be purchased online at http://www.downtownculturepass.org/, or in person at the Museum of American Finance (48 Wall Street, NY, NY 10005) or the Museum of Jewish Heritage (39 Battery Place at 1st Place, NY, NY 10280). A rack card with information on cultural attractions, offers, and how and where to buy tickets will be available at the participating museums.

Our Tribute WTC Visitor Center is proud to be apart of this wonderful project. It's time to see a different side of Manhattan then you ever thought existed. Come and take a look for yourself!

Here is links to 3 great articles about the launch of the Downtown Culture Pass:
http://www.dnainfo.com/20101103/downtown/downtown-museums-launch-3day-culture-pass-attact-more-visitors

http://blog.downtownny.com/2010/11/making-lower-manhattan-your-cultural-destination-every-step-of-the-way/

http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/kids/blog/2010/11/03/downtown-cultural-passes-go-on-sale-thursday-november-4/

Lee

Great Neck Middle School Trip to the Tribute Center

2010-10-29T14:59:00.013-04:00

Hi All,

I had the pleasure to speak to some great students and their teachers from my home town of Great Neck two weeks ago. This is, of course, the same school some of my children went to while growing up there. It turned out to be very moving for all of us. It's always an experience to be able to learn from one another. Their teachers were wonderful. I hope they left with as much as I got out of it. I hope I get some feedback.

While talking about students and their education, please take a look of 3 of our educational resources as they are listed on the www.teachersfirst.com website, which is an resource used by teacher's worldwide.

September 11 Teacher Awards - Grade K to 12 - Tribute WTC Visitor Center
Are you looking for ways to inspire meaningful discussions of September 11th and to help make sense of this tragedy? The Tribute World Trade Center Visitor Center of New York City presents awards to honor teachers who have created exemplary educational projects for students to express ansd sustain the memory of September 11th. This site shares their projects from the globe and involving all aspects of the arts and humanities, including history, language arts, visual, media and performing arts. Althouugh this site is mainly designed for grades 5-12, tehre are some activities for younger elementary students found in the "Resources for Your Classroom" section of the site.

September 11 Voices of Recovery - Grades 7 to 12 - Tribute WTC Visitor Center
Hear multiple perspectivites from the actual recovery site of the September 11, 2001 attack on the New York World Trade Center. Understand what the devastation and challenges were really like and how horrific the experience actuallywas by listening to voices recorded from ordinary citizens that were actually there on that fateful day. This is a realistic opportunity to hear different perspectives on the recovery eexperience from the point of view of a Salvation Army volunteerm a photographer, a medical examiner, a police commander, a family member and others.

September 11 Personal Stories of Transformation - Grades 5 to 12 - Tribute WTC Visitor Center
September 11 Personal Stories of Transformation is a multi-media clasroom resource kit that includes eight videos. Each unit is complete with primary resources, historic context, related links, tool kits, ideas for community service projects, and a teacher's guide. Each story is accompanied by questions that encourage studenst to connect what happened in recent history to their own lives and the choices they make. The site provides a concrete understanding of what happened and how people responded on September 11, 2001 and how people have worked toward making positive changes around the world after these events.

Have a great weekend and I hope this leaves you with some educational inspiration!
Lee

Dignitary Visits at the Tribute Center

2010-10-27T11:29:00.007-04:00

Hi All,

It has been extremely busy here at the Tribute Center and I wanted to fill you in on some of the happenings. We have been seeing many VIP guests visiting the Tribute Center this month. Let me fill you in on some.

We were glad to welcome Ms. Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, who is the Consul General of Poland in New York. She was accompanied by Mr. Robert Kostro - Director of the Polish History Museum and Ms. Ewa Wierzynska, also from the Polish History Museum. They were taken and moved by our mission of education and were shocked that 9/11 education has not been made mandatory as standard curriculum in our school system.

We were also glad to welcome the former Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, who is now a member of the Japanese House of Representatives in Parliament, and other dignitaries who visited the Tribute Center. These dignitaries included:

Mr. Daisuke Haga, assistant to the former PM Hatoyama
Mr. Toshio Yamamoto, Special Police (i.e., the security officer for former PM Hatoyama)
Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Takehiro Kanou, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Yuko Yaguchi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Akihiro Okochi, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
Ambassador Shinichi Nishimya, Ambassador and Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in New York
Mr. Daiichiro Takeuchi, Consul, Consulate General of Japan in New York

Also, this month from Japan, we welcomed Makiko Kikuta, who is the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs in Japan's House of Representatives.

These visits prove to be both moving and educational for our guests. We always encourage our guests to promote education and enlightment in their own countries. If we all contribute in just a small way, we can make a difference.

For those of you who are new or have not seen our Teacher Resource & Toolkit, please go to http://www.tributewtc.org/programs/toolkit.html and have a look. I am always interested in your feedback and thoughts.

Best,
Lee

9/11: The Air Reponse

2010-10-23T17:53:00.003-04:00

Hello All,

On Thursday, October 14, 2010, Lynn Spencer came to the Tribute Center to speak with members of our Volunteer Program about the aviation reaction and response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Ms. Spencer is a pilot herself and is the author of the book, Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama that Unfolded in the Skies over America on 9/11. During the program, she discussed airline safety protocol before 9/11 and how it has changed and evolved in the days, months and years since the attacks. She also discussed how pilots, air controllers, the military and the FAA responded as the events of 9/11 rapidly unfolded. It was great to hear about the tremendous effort of all those who had to think fast and make unprecedented decisions to safely land all air traffic for the first time in the nation's history.

Next week, I plan to bombard you all with blogs about all the exciting dignitary visits and other events that have been happening at the Tribute Center. It has been almost too much to keep up with and I want to make sure that all our fans and supporters remain in the loop at with what is happening here!

Thanks again for your support and enjoy the weekend!

Lee

President of the Greek Volunteer Firefighters Association

2010-10-14T17:31:00.004-04:00

Hi All,

There are so many good things that are happening at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center. Through our public programs, not to mention the hundreds of school groups from around the world, people who come to visit are leaving with a better understanding of that tragic day and the knowledge that they can make a difference.

Let me tell you about two such events. We had the pleasure of hosting the President of the Greek Volunteer Firefighters' Association and his wife to pay their respect to the Fallen Firefighters and all that were lost. We also escorted them to the Firefighter's Memorial that is next to Engine 10/ Ladder 10 fire house on Liberty Street.

We also had a public program on September 30, 2010, held at Building 7 of the World Trade Center. This program was about the historic findings of an 1800-Century ship that was found in the World Trade Center site during a recent excavation. The program was so successful that we needed a larger venue to hold over 3 hundred requests. The program was extremely informative with many pictures and detailed reports.

If any of you would like to know more about our programs and otehr events held at Tribute, you could visit our website at www.tributewtc.org, sign up for our e-newsletter by going to for news and event updates, or become fans of our Facebook and Twitter pages!

Best,
Lee

Remembering the Attack on the USS Cole

2010-10-12T16:19:00.002-04:00

Today, I would like to take a moment to remember and honor those whose lives were lost when al-Qaeda terrorists rammed into the USS Cole with a boat full of explosives on October 12, 2000. Ultimately, 17 sailors lost their lives and another 39 sailors were injured in the attack. Please take a moment to honor and remember those whose lives were lost while they were fighting to protect our freedom.

Messages of Hope

2010-10-08T15:01:00.006-04:00

Hi All,

Below are some visitor cards that embody the message of educaion, hope and perservance. We must remember that all life has value and that we all play a role in making the world a better place.

Best,
Lee

Truly a Privilege

2010-09-29T16:56:00.005-04:00

This past August 25th and 26th, I had the great privilege to be the keynote speaker at a FORSCOM Army conference (U.S. Army Forces Command) in Georgia. As the lead speaker, I was asked to focus on the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the many positive outcomes - such as the Tribute WTC Visitor Center and our other projects that seek to better our world. The objective was to re-anchor the highest-ranking members of the Army, men and women who are leaders for our front line of defense and why so many Americans have been involved in combat since September 11, 2001.

This privilege was magnified by the audience in attendance, Four Star General James D. Thurman, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces Command; Four Star General (ret) David D. McKiernan; Lietutenant General Jack C. Stultz Chief, Army Reserve; Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command; Major General Raymond Mason Chief of Staff, G4 U.S. Army Forces Command, Command Sergeant Major Ron Riling; Mr. David Campbell G4 Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Headquarters; Force Command; and other Generals, colonels, civilian personnel and Army Family members. I ended my presentation with many questions and answers from all of us.

What I learned in giving this talk was that our military leaders did not need to hear my story as an anchoring connection. Instead, I was immensely grateful to be able to meet these Generals and to be able to say we are in the best of hands and have the most capable and trusted men and women running our military. They anchored me.

Truly a memorable and privileged event for me to pass on to my gradchildren.

God bless them and America,
Lee

Education is Power

2010-09-23T10:39:00.008-04:00

Hi All,

Below are a few visitor cards that exemplify the ongoing mission and need for education, as a way to bring positive change into the world. Please take some time to read these cards and reflect on how you can make a difference.

Best,

Lee

Tour of Duty Run

2010-09-16T14:56:00.002-04:00

As I wrote in an earlier blog post this September, Melbourne firefighter Paul Ritchie, 15 of his Australian firefighter friends, and 20 Americans, including paramedics, police officers and firefighters from all over the country, including the PAPD and FDNY, ran across the USA to honor those lost on September 11, 2001 and to raise money for 9/11-related causes. One of the runners was James Dowdell, a New York City Firefighter who lost his Dad and a good friend of mine, Lt. Kevin Dowdell from Rescue 4. James's brother Capt. Patrick Dowdell is serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. To see what Patrick has done, please read this article: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/56097/bond-forged-tragedy-two-friends-afghanistan-observe-they-lost-9-11.

A quote from the Tour of Duty website, "The Tour of Duty is an emotional statement. It is the coming together of Australian and American firefighters, police officers, military personnel and emergency service workers. We run to remember the people of 9/11, to honor their sacrifice, their courage, their devotion and commitment to duty. Every step of this run is a part of our statement, however humble, that their commitment to duty, to service, will never be forgotten."

Their run began in California on August 12, 2010 and zigzagged across America, day in and day out, every day. On September 11, 2010, at 6:15 in the morning, they ran at top speed across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. There were many good stories that day. This is one of the best.

Remembering the Ninth Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks

2010-09-10T11:29:00.005-04:00

As we approach the 9th Anniverary, we can't help but think, as we have for the last 8 plus years, how fast time has passed. We have all been profoundly changed by the attacks of September 11th and many of us in our own way have tried to make tomorrow a little bit better for someone else. By acting in responsible ways, we have shown the world our strength through adversity. Here are a few examples of projects undertaken by people in the 9/11 community in recent years -- supporting our young men and women in uniform by hosting them on special trips, creating foundations that honor 9/11 victims of terrorism by awarding scholarships for college or by offering counseling to victims of terrorism or natural disasters, designing educational materials such as the Tribute WTC Visitor Center's teaching materials available on our website, building schools in Afghanistan for young boys and girls, empowering widows in Afghanistan with job training, and adavocating to make 9/11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance. What better way to show the world that the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 have only strengthened our resolve to make tomorrow a better place for our children and all the children of the world.

We at the September 11th Families' Association/ Tribute WTC Visitor Center are proud of our accomplishments and with God's grace, we will continue to tell the personal stories of 9/11 and how people's lives have changed since. This week in the spirit of 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, we are preparing care packages for our men and women in the crew of the USS New York. Helping us will be family members, Commissioner Sal Cassano from the Fire Department, Commissioner Ray Kelly from the Police Department, staff from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, players from the Mets and the Jets and many folks from companies that lost colleagues and friends. All will be helping to say "Thank You" to the young people who are serving our country.

I ask that you, too, take a moment to think about what you can do to make the future just a little bit better for someone. What project can you join or create that will help benefit mankind?

I have added two visitor cards from the Tribute Center that speaks well on this subject.

God bless,

Lee

Maasai Tribe visits Tribute

2010-08-30T14:13:00.009-04:00

We had the great priviledge to be visited by 4 members of the Maasai tribe from Kenya, Africa. If you remember, this is the tribe that after hearing about the attacks on our country, felt they wanted to show their deep concern to the people of New York. Living in the savannah of Africa, far from any modern setting, the people of the tribe made the decision to give New York 14 of thir most cherished and valued possessions - 14 cows. They felt this contribution would help New Yorkers to get through this horrible disaster. This gift came from the heart and was remarkable for showing that even in the furthest reaches of the planet, people were inspired to support our common humanity. The men who visited last week came to the United States on a mission to raise awareness for their organization, Namirisho (which means "Victory") Girls Community Outreach. They are striving to provide rescue and refuge to young girls who are under threats of abuse and discrimination of various forms in their country. Social practices include Female Gental Mutilation, forced marriages, child abuse, child labour, lack of parental care and lack of educational prospects due to extreme poverty and gender subordination are tremendous obstacles to their young people. Their main goal is to help the young girls of both the Maasai tribe and other tribes to become resourceful, responsible and educated members of society.

For these 4 men from the Maasai tribe to come to America, they had to sell 4 of their cows. Like us, their mission meant that much to them.

When they visited the Tribute Center, I was so moved by their extraordinary kindness and the generosity with which they related to others. They were greatly moved by what they saw in our galleries and showed an immense ability to connect to those who are suffering and are in pain. After exchanging gifts, we wished them well. I offered my support in their mission to make a difference for others and admire their ability to stand up for those whose voices are not allowed to be heard.

Tour of Duty Run

2010-08-20T12:52:00.003-04:00

Melbourne firefighter Paul Ritchie, accompanied by 15 of his Australian firefighter friends and 20 Americans - paramedics, police officers, and firefighters - from all over the country, are running across the United States to honor those lost on September 11, 2001 and to raise money for 9/11-related causes. I've met some of the Australian firefighters at the Tribute Center and they are great guys. I am also very proud that one of the American runners is FF James Dowdell from the FDNY. James lost his father and a good friend of mine, Lt. Kevin Dowdell, who was murdered in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. I spoke with his mom, Rose Ellen, yesterday and it sounds like he is having a once in a lifetime experience.

This impressive run began in California on August 12, 2010 and will conclude at the site of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 111 2010. The runners are on the road 24 hours a day, as they remain dedicated to their cause and persevere to complete their amazing journey.

Donations received from the run will go directly to the Tour of Duty Foundation, a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization. The donations will be distributed to nominated charities, including our organization, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center.

To follow the runners on their journey, click here: www.tourofduty.com.au. I will try to keep you all abreast of their progress. Good luck guys!

Susan Retik: 2010 Citizens Medal Recipient

2010-08-09T17:01:00.002-04:00

There are many things that we at the Tribute Center are very proud of. Let me tell you about one. Just days ago, President Obama awarded the 2010 Citizens Medal at a White House ceremony to Susan Retik, a September 11th widow who lost her husband David on the plane that struck the North Tower, for her work educating and training Afghan widows and their children. We at Tribute are proud of Susan Retik and her accomplishment; we are also proud that Susan Retik plays a major role in our educational resource materials now available on our website (http://www.tributewtc.org/programs/toolkit.html). I encourage you to take a look at Susan's video and you will undersatnd why she was chosen for this very prestigious Citizens Medal award.

The following quote by Susan Retik sums up her feelings and ours. "I don't believe people are born with hate in their hearts. We all want the same things in life. And you know, those things are health and happiness, and peace and security. They want those same things for their children the way that we do for ours and it doesn't make them bad people because they happen to be born in a different country."

All the best,
Lee

Remembering the 65th Anniversary of the Hiroshima Bombing

2010-08-06T16:11:00.006-04:00

Today, August 6, 2010, marks the 65th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. It is important that we take the time to remember this event. Every day visitors come to the Tribute Center and see Sadako Sasaki's origami peace crane and read her wish for peace:

"Please treasure the life that is given to you. Please experience all the things I could not experience. I entrust a small heart of compassion (omoiyari) to all of you. It is my belief that my small paper crane will enable you to understand other people's feelings as if they are your own." Sadao Sasaki, 1955

Over the past few years, I have had the remarkable experience of becoming friends with Masahiro Sasaki, Sadako's older brother and atomic bomb survivor. My friendship with Masahiro has taught me a lot about power in honoring the death of a loved one by making the world a better place. This weekend as you take a moment to reflect on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I would ask that you please read a wonderful piece in the Chicago Tribune by Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman.

Here are some beautiful cards left by two of our Japanese visitors.

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend.
Lee

A Tribute to the Young Men and Women in Uniform

2010-07-30T10:43:00.010-04:00

Hi All,

We had another trip to our Tribute Center by the Young Men and Women Fighting for us. I will always mention their visit, so as not to forget we (they) are at war.

On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, a group of 80 Wounded Vetrans and their families visited the Tribute Center. To date, over 1100 Wounded Vets have visited the Tribute Center. The Wounded Warriors Project is dedicated to honoring those who have served our country and have been injured in the line of duty as they were protecting our freedoms, which are the foundation that this country was built upon.

In talking with some members and their families, I'm always impressed with their own ability to continue on with their lives, despite having seen humanity at its worst, in times of war and uncontrolled violence. The Vetrans carry with them not only their own personal hardships and losses, but they have suffered physical debilitation that remains an ever-present reminder of the hatred that exists in this world. But, in my own eyes, they give me a much greater message of hope than I can ever possibly ask for: each "warrior" that I met proved that whether the scar is physical or emotional, the human spirit has the power to overcome and to unite amid the many similar hardships and trials that we all face. We must never forget those who have fought for and protected the freedoms which others have tried to oppress and I proudly salute these resilient and very young Men and Women in Uniform.

I speak a lot about education as a means to fight terrorism. Look at this visitor card by an 11 year old. If it wasn't for her mother, she would know nothing about September 11.

Keep your chin up and think positive,

Lee

Japanese Consulate General Visits Tribute

2010-07-28T12:22:00.008-04:00

On Wednesday, July 21, I had the great opportunity to meet and give Mr. Masamitsu Naito, Japan's Secretary of State for Internal Affairs and Communications, a tour of the Tribute Center when he came by on his only stop in NYC. He was accompanied by Takashi Yabashi of the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation and Masaya Ueda, Consul of the Economic Division from the Consulate General of Japan in New York, and David Janes of the United States - Japan Foundation. Mr. Naito once lived in New York, during his time as a student at Columbia University, and had the opportunity to visit the WTC himself. It was a moving experience for him to walk through the galleries and I was profoundly touched by the fact that he came directly from the airport to solely visit the Tribute Center while traveling between Latin America and Tokyo. Visits like this make you realize the impact that the events of September 11, 2001 had all over the world and how almost 9 years later, people are still coming to the WTC site to pay their respects to those who lost their lives that day.

Tribute Volunteers Visit the Pentagon Memorial

2010-07-20T12:53:00.006-04:00

This past Saturday, members of our volunteer program, joined by members of our Tribute staff, had the exciting opportunity to visit the Pentagon Memorial. Despite the sweltering hot sun, the Tribute volunteers expressed how incredible it was to have the opportunity to listen to accounts of what happened at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. The volunteers were also able to hear about the continuing development of the Pentagon memorial from four incredible men and good friends. Andy Ammerman, Randy Papadopoulos, author of Pentagon 9/11, Jim Laychak, who lost his own brother on 9/11 and is now working with the Pentagon Memorial Fund, and Bruce Powers, who worked at the Pentagon for 16 years and is now a Tribute volunteer who comes up once a month to give tours. We were also joined by members of the Flight 93 Memorial community.

The Tribute Center Docents at the Arlington County Firehouse.

The Tribute Center family and the Flight 93 Ambassadors were also honored to be welecomed by the Arlington County Firefighters for dinner at their firehouse, hosted by Captain Patterson, the firefighters and accompanied by Chief White who is a representative of the department. We at the Tribute Center would like to thank them all so much for their generosity and hospitality towards us! This trip showed the importance of establishing a unity and bond between all those within the 9/11 community who experienced such an enormous loss on that day, whether their connection is through the WTC, Flight 93 or Pentagon. The positive feedback from our volunteers showed what an uplifting experience it was to be able to share their stories with one another, those who understood the great pain and loss of losing a loved one, but at the same time, finding the strength within themselves to never let the events of that day be forgotten. And, this too, remains apart of my own personal mission, as well as the mission of the Tribute Center.

Teacher Institute at the Tribute Center

2010-07-14T15:52:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the Tribute Center worked with Facing History and Ourselves to host a group of teachers who were passionate about learning new ways to discuss September 11th with their students. I had the pleasure of joining this wonderful group while they learned about the Tribute Center, our Walking Tour program, and, of course, our online educational materials.

Needless to say, the determination of this group was inspiring. These are teachers who chose to take time out of their summer vacations to come and spend two days with us, so obviously this topic is very important to them. They spoke of the things that we talk about all of the time – the need for education and the fear of complacency. Many stressed that we shouldn’t be afraid to teach our students about 9/11, we should be more afraid of what will happen if we don’t teach them.

Roundtable discussion at the Teacher Institute

Speaking with these teachers just reassures me that we are moving in the right direction with our educational initiatives here at the Tribute Center. It is a good feeling to hear the same thoughts from teachers who know the system and the kids the best. We are now making a difference in a positive way. This is obvious by the great response from so many of you that helped us reach our goal of $5000 to send our educational toolkit into 1000 classrooms throughout New York City!

I can’t thank the wonderful teachers who shared their time and ideas with us enough, and I can’t thank you and our incredible supporters enough for helping us reach our goal! We will keep working as hard as we can to make sure that teaching students about September 11, 2001 becomes part of the curriculum, not only in New York, but all over this great country.

On a side note, Lauren Lombardo, who is part of our great staff and who has helped me immensely with my blog and many other projects, is leaving us and going back to school to further her career. Thank you Lauren and I wish you well. Lee

A Royal Visit and the 5th Anniversary of the London Bombings

2010-07-07T10:37:00.004-04:00

As many of you know, Queen Elizabeth visited the World Trade Center site yesterday to lay a memorial wreath. I had the great honor to meet and talk to Her Majesty. I was moved by her sincere compassion for the families and the site. The blistering sun did not stop her from spending a great deal of time with all of the family members and reflecting on history before formally dedicating the British Garden at Hanover Square, which was built to honor the 67 British victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The timing of this visit was especially meaningful, as today marks the 5th anniversary of the London bombings.

On July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers detonated bombs on three London Underground trains and one double-decker bus. This coordinated attack happened during the morning rush hour, killing 52 and injuring around 700.

The Queen of England spent yesterday memorializing 9/11, and we should spend today memorializing 7/7. As Her Majesty told diplomats at the UN yesterday, "The waging of peace is the hardest form of leadership of all." We must continue to stand together against all acts of terrorism in all nations. Terrorism must never be tolerated, whether in our own backyard or across an ocean. So please take a moment today to remember the victims of the July 7, 2005 bombing in whatever way you see fit. Whether through a moment of silence, a prayer or a good deed, honoring the victims of terrorism reminds us to never forget and take steps towards a more peaceful future.

National Conference on Volunteering and Service

2010-06-29T16:43:00.004-04:00

This morning, the National Conference on Volunteering and Service sent down a great group of volunteer and service leaders from all over the country to visit the Tribute Center. The group went through our 5 galleries, took a walking tour with our docents, and listened to a presentation by Jay Winuk and David Paine, founders of 911dayofservice.org, the organization responsible for making September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

I had the good fortune of leading the group through our 5 galleries and was proud to see just how many people make volunteering such an important part of their life. David Paine made a great point in his presentation, which was about using September 11th as a day to capture the sense of unity and compassion displayed by people all over the world in response to the attacks. He spoke about how crucial it is that we as a country define September 11th and what it means, not the terrorists. It would be such a shame if 20, 50, and 100 years from now, students only had images of death and destruction to define their knowledge of this history. Instead, if we redefine this day as a day of compassion and outreach, we will take control of what it means to the future. Of course we will still have to educate people about what happened on September 11, 2001, but if we couple it with service and volunteering, it will be easier to promote tolerance and peace. I am proud to say that this is what we do with our educational materials, and what we have always done within the Tribute Center. So, check out 911dayofservice.org and see if you can find a project to participate in this September, or even right now. Help us take back the day and show the strength and power in helping our fellow man.

Inspiring students, one classroom at a time

2010-06-24T14:40:00.004-04:00

This morning I was shown a real gem – a booklet put together by a teacher from Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Brooklyn with student responses to a trip to the Tribute Center. They were given a tour by one of our wonderful docents and were all very moved by her story. I’ve included a powerful letter from one of the students about how inspired she was by hearing the story of someone in the September 11th Community.

A few weeks ago I told you about a little fundraiser we are doing to get our educational materials, which include several stories like that which inspired Albana, into 1000 schools throughout New York City. The response has been incredible so far, and we’ve even found ourselves our very own Tribute guardian angel – someone has agreed to match the first $2500 we raise! Now we only need to raise $2500 to assure that our materials get into the hands of 1000 teachers before September 11, 2010, and we are over half way there!

This is a great way of taking action if you believe that all students across our great country should be learning about September 11th in their classrooms. Please donate if you can, but even if you can’t, please spread the word about our fundraiser and our Teacher Resources to your friends and family who are also passionate about education. Every $5 brings our educational materials to another classroom, and every donation will help students like Albana continue to learn the lessons of strength, unity and peace.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-18T09:53:00.003-04:00

Father's Day is here once again.

So why should we have a Father’s Day?

Well, I think it’s because Dad fills many roles every day -- he educates, he listens to problems, he gives spiritual advice, he protects us, he comforts us, he provides for us, he tells us no when he wishes he could say yes, he teaches right from wrong, he gives us his heart, he gives us the warmth of his arms, the smile and understanding that we will never forget and will give to our own children.

My Dad taught me good family values. He taught me to respect all people, especially women. My Dad gave me the gift to enjoying the outdoors. I miss my Dad to this day. But the gifts he gave me are priceless.

So if Dad is still here or if he left early in life, just remember he loves you.

Happy Father's Day,
Lee

Help Tribute inspire 1000 NYC classrooms!

2010-06-09T16:18:00.005-04:00

I talk a lot about the value of education, but now is the time to take action. Our free, online educational toolkit is getting great reviews, but there are still schools all over New York that don’t have access to the internet in their classrooms. To ensure that all students have a chance to learn the important lessons of September 11, 2001, we need to put the toolkit in the hands of the teachers -- teachers like Sally, who wrote the visitor card below about the difficulties she has teaching about 9/11.

This is where we need your help. To distribute 1000 DVDs in schools throughout New York City, we need to raise $5,000 by July 15th so that the discs are in the hands of the teachers by September 11, 2010. With your help, I know that we can raise this money. So please use email, facebook and twitter to tell everyone that you know, and don’t forget to donate yourself! Just $5 will help teach an entire New York City classroom the essential lessons of tolerance and peace.

September 11th Education Exhibit and Workshop

2010-06-03T15:00:00.007-04:00

I don’t know if you’ve seen them yet, but you just have to check out our wonderful online teaching materials and our newest exhibit, “Why teach 9/11? What 9/11 teaches…” We’ve gotten phenomenal responses from teachers and students who have tested out the materials and I couldn’t be more proud of both the exhibit, which looks at what students can take away from learning about the events of September 11th, and our wonderful staff who put the exhibit together. We introduce the students to the tragedy of the events, of course, but try to uplift them in the end. Each story that the materials and exhibit examine is about an individual who took this horrible event and turned it into a positive. It is these stories that are so important for our young people to hear – striving to make the world a better place despite living through a personal tragedy.

Students share their ideas on taking civic responsibility

Overviews of the new exhibit

We are trying to get this information out to as many educators as possible, so Tribute is hosting a Professional Development Workshop on July 13th and 14th. “Our History/Our Future: Teaching September 11th in Your School” will use multi-media presentations to help teachers explore the events of 9/11, a variety of approaches to memorialization and the remarkable humanitarian initiatives that resulted from the tragedy. Our staff has been working with Facing History and Ourselves to put this great event together, and I can’t wait to meet the educators who are so passionate about teaching students this important piece of their own personal history. I would ask that all of you also spread the word about our online materials, exhibit and workshop to your friends and family, not just in New York, but all over. By now you all know how I feel – the more teachers teach about 9/11, the more students are ready to make informed decisions about the future of our great country.

Fleet Week 2010

2010-05-26T16:46:00.010-04:00

Today marks the first day of Fleet Week, a week where our brave men and women in the military come to New York City for volunteer work, tours, and some much deserved time off.

The Tribute Center has always had a special relationship with the military, including our incredible partnership with the USS New York. Today some of the crew members from the USS New York stopped by for lunch and community service with some school kids from Philadelphia. I can’t say enough about these young men and women, and all the people serving our country. It makes me so proud to not only be an American, but to have served my country as well.

Crew members of the USS New York

Crew members explain their jobs on the ship

The students asked some great questions!

To celebrate Fleet Week, the Tribute Center will admit all uniformed service men and women for free from May 26 – June 1, 2010. In addition, Tribute has joined over 50 other New York City Cultural Institutions for “New York Museums Salute Memorial Day: A Weekend of Appreciation.” From Saturday, May 29th through Monday, May 30th, any active duty service member or veteran not in uniform will be given free admittance to the Tribute Center with proper ID. For a list of acceptable IDs and other participating organizations, please click here.

So if you see any military service members walking around New York this week, please thank them. They risk their lives every day, just as our forefathers did, so we can live in freedom.

Tribute Center Visitor Cards: The Importance of Education

2010-05-24T16:27:00.006-04:00

I know that I talk a lot about education and enlightenment, so I wanted to use this post to highlight how many other people are talking about it as well. Our visitor cards speak of peace, hope, and the importance of education. Our visitors recognize how crucial it is that our children have the knowledge that will help inform their future decisions. Below is just a small sample of MANY cards that have this same message:

If you have any further thoughts or ideas on how to continue our quest to teach the lessons of 9/11, please let me know in the comments section. We are always looking for new ways to reach out to ensure that everyone, children and adults alike, has the ability to learn from the past to live in a more tolerant, peaceful world.

The Importance of Education

2010-05-21T15:21:00.004-04:00

Every once in awhile, I’ll come across an article like this one that reminds me why we started the Tribute Center.

Those who know me know I can’t say enough about the importance of education. While we are still working hard toward getting curriculums in place to teach about 9/11 throughout the country, it is so refreshing to read about teachers who take matters into their own hands. Students and teachers alike recognize the importance of learning about this integral part of our nation’s history and how it changed our world forever, and it’s articles like this that show this knowledge is making an impact. I am so proud to know that the Tribute Center and our online toolkit played such a big part in educating these and many other children throughout the country and the world.

Our next goal should be to make sure that all students are given access to learning about September 11, 2001. While it is wonderful that our online resources are being taught at various schools throughout the country, this is only the first step. It is so important that every state in the nation write 9/11 into their school curriculum. Right now our schools are educating our future leaders, and those leaders need to be well informed to make knowledgeable decisions to bring about a better and peaceful tomorrow.

Two symbols in the hope for peace

2010-05-07T16:34:00.004-04:00

The Tribute Center has a very special relationship with Japan, which was made apparent when Masahiro Sasaki, brother of Sadako Sasaki, donated to us one of Sadako’s original origami cranes that she folded while critically ill from the long term affects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Sadako’s father told her that if she folded a thousand cranes she would be granted a wish. Her wishes were to live and for world peace. Sadly, Sadako died in 1955, but her wish for peace lives on with everyone who hears her story. This crane serves as a call to international peace, and we have proudly been displaying this powerful object since the end of 2008.

This week, during the Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the UN, we had a formal dedication of the brand new display for Sadako’s crane. Masahiro Sasaki and his son, Yugi, were the guests of honor. The ceremony was attended by Speaker Christine Quinn, 3 Hibakusha (survivors) from Hiroshima, Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya, the Consul General of Japan in New York City, and Eleanor Coerr, the author of the beloved American children’s classic, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Students from PS 234, who have studied Sadako, were in the audience and were very excited to meet Mrs. Coerr and Mr. Sasaki. It was wonderful to see how Sadako’s story resonates with them. At the end of the ceremony, Yugi performed a song he wrote in memory of his aunt Sadako and her dream for peace. It was a very moving ceremony and I strongly urge all of you to visit the new display for our beautiful symbol of peace.

This morning, Masatoshi Yoshimura, member of the Nagasaki City Council who was in town to speak at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review, toured Tribute and brought along with him an incredible relic from the bombing of Nagasaki. A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, housed in a chapel directly below the bombing, was completely destroyed save the bust. This bust has been traveling all over the world as a symbol that atomic weaponry should never be used again, and we were very lucky to be able to see this artifact in person. I was incredibly moved.

As I mentioned to a group at Tribute this morning, both Sadako’s crane and the bust from Nagasaki are powerful reminders that we must work towards international peace. It has been 65 years since the end of World War II and I ask myself (and all of you), “What have we done to make this world a move peaceful place?” As you all know, I believe the answer to a more peaceful world is education. So let these pieces be a reminder to all of us to make sure that our children are educated about world history and taught understanding and tolerance.

A special thank you to The US Japan Foundation, The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, The Japan Society, and Ann and Tom Johnson for making all this possible.

Attempted bombing in Times Square

2010-05-06T16:43:00.005-04:00

In light of this past weekend's attempted bombing in Times Square, which highlights the fact that our city continues to be a main target, I am reminded how important it is that we continue to be vigilant here in New York and all over the world. The preparation and training of our uniformed services and their quick response were key factors in mitigating the danger of the Times Square car bomb. I believe that our Federal government must allocate more Homeland Security funds to NYC because of the repeated threats focused on locations throughout the city.

In addition to security measures, we must look to a more peaceful future by teaching young people in NY and around the world the history of the events of September 11th. Schools are still afraid to talk about what they consider to be a sensitive subject, but if young people don't understand their world, how will they be able to work towards preventing violence and terrorism? It is so crucial that history is taught so that it is not repeated.

While we were extremely lucky this time that nothing worse happened, these events should serve as a reminder that the threat is still very much alive and we cannot continue being complacent. Please continue to support the Tribute Center, where we share our personal history with visitors from around the world so they stay vigilant against terrorism.

God Bless and Be Safe.

Lee

In Memoriam: The 15th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

2010-04-19T12:46:00.004-04:00

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The blast killed 168 people, including 19 children who were at a daycare center in the facility. This shattered the notion of many that America was immune to terrorism.

As the families of those murdered gather today in Oklahoma City to reflect and remember, we must all reflect on that horrific day just 15 years ago and remember what hatred did and continues to do.

I just returned from a speaking engagement in the beautiful town of Enid, Oklahoma. They asked how we all are doing since 9/11 and reflected on the support given to them from New York after their bombing. Many of our brave men in uniform that helped in Oklahoma died on September 11, 2001 doing the same thing that they were called upon to do back in 1995 -- help others.

We must never forget or become complacent but look to the future and make tomorrow a better day by remembering the past. Education is the way to make that difference. The Tribute Center has recently released a set of online educational materials in hopes of working towards this goal.

Please take a moment to remember those lost on April 19, 1995 and the families that will carry their loss with them forever.

Tribute remembers March 11, 2004

2010-03-11T09:37:00.001-05:00

There are many sad days that we all must remember in this troubled world of ours. Remembering can cause considerable pain, but is necessary for the healing process. For us at the September 11th Families’ Association, the obligation to remember is for our children and our children’s children. We strive to remember though education in order to bring about change in a positive way.

March 11, 2004 is one of those days that we all must remember. On that day, 191 people were murdered and 2,867 were injured by 10 terrorist bombings on 4 commuter trains between Alcalá de Henares and the Atocha station in Madrid. This was a senseless killing of innocent people coming and going from work or school, visiting family and friends, or on vacation. I’ve had the honor to visit the Memorial at the Atocha Station and one at Retiro Park in Spain. Both times my mind went back to the events of September 11, 2001. It strengthened my resolve to push ahead with our mission of education.

Last week we had the honor of having a representative of Spain in the European Parliament, Teresa Jimenez Becerril Barrio, visit the Tribute Center. She informed us that March 11th is now remembered as European Union Day for Victims of Terrorism. Parliament will have a moment of silence and various members, Ms. Barrio included, will speak on the subject. She is a victim herself as her brother and sister-in-law were killed by ETA.

We feel as though remembering acts of terrorism around the world allows us to take a united stance against them. So please take a moment today to remember what hatred and intolerance did and continues to do around the world and consider what you can do to make this world a better place.

Tribute at the International Congress of Victims of Terrorism

2010-02-18T15:40:00.004-05:00

Hi all,

Jennifer Adams, Ben Urizar and I, along with members from both Tuesday’s Children and the Pentagon Memorial Fund, have just returned from Salamanca, Spain, where we participated in the 6th International Congress on Victims of Terrorism.

The purpose of the International Congress is to bring to light subjects of concern related to victims of terrorism worldwide and to address these issues and to implement change. The Congress recognizes that a continuous forum that addresses all issues facing victims is essential if we are to have an impact on terrorism.

The presence of dignitaries from various countries is a sign of solidarity that terrorism will not be tolerated any longer. Just as important, if not more so, were the many victims from across the world that participated in the congress to show that we can make a difference by uniting and standing together. These included victims from Argentina, Algeria, Chile, Columbia, France, Italy, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.

We also took part in different panel discussions conducted by well-known sociologists, medical professionals, psychiatrists, journalists, media professionals, attorneys and others. This brings a new and fresh look at what can be done from a much broader perspective.

Our wish is to bring the International Congress the New York City for the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. We believe that it would send a very powerful message about supporting victims of terrorism and allowing them to share their voices with the world.

Be well, Lee

Jen and I with Cayetano Gonzalez Hermosilla, co-founder of the Congress

Jen with Rosemary and Denise from the Pentagon Memorial Fund

At the Congress with a victim of the Madrid Bombing

Special thanks and a special guest

2010-02-05T13:44:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday, we closed the Tribute Center to the public for some annual maintenance. Our entire staff came together to clean, measure and paint, and it was a wonderful thing to see such great people working together for such a fantastic result. After a long day of climbing ladders and taping edges, the Tribute Center looks even better than when we first opened. I strongly urge you to come down and see for yourself (and congratulate a staff member for a paint job well done)!

Mid-way through the morning, we were informed that a special visitor would be stopping by to check out the Tribute Center. So the entire staff, covered in paint and sweat from a long morning’s work, welcomed Steven Spielberg into the museum to show him the fruits of our labor. Mr. Spielberg is currently doing a documentary on the rebuilding after 9/11 and had stopped by to do some filming in our Gallery 4. It was wonderful to meet him, and everyone at the Tribute Center is proud to be part of such an important story.

Once again, in closing, I want to extend a special thanks to our staff for your dedication to the Tribute Center. The Tribute Center looks phenomenal, and we couldn't have done it without you.

Emergency in Haiti

2010-01-13T12:58:00.003-05:00

Our hearts go out today to all those involved in the horrible earthquake that affected Haiti last night. Whether as a result of a manmade or natural disaster, where lives hang in the balance we as a country and individuals should do what we can to help our fellow man.

Please contact the Red Cross if you'd like to find a way to contribute. No matter how simple or how small it may be, your help could make a difference.

A prayer for those affected would be great as well.

September 11th Poem

2010-01-06T13:46:00.002-05:00

This morning I received a letter and poem from a childhood friend of Bill Biggart, a photographer who perished when the North Tower collapsed on September 11th, 2001. I was very moved by this letter and poem, so I would like to share it with you all:

This is a poem I wrote on September 12, 2001 late in the night after seeing the pile and destruction that morning. I volunteered for 3 days at Pier 40, bringing supplies from various drop off points. I saw a photo of a childhood friend, Bill Biggart. The photo showed a column of one of the Towers in smoke. I grew up with Billy and he got me interested in photography. When I found out he died on 9-11 on the platform standing with the fireman as the buildings fell, I was shocked. The Visitor Center is very meaningful and thanks for opening a place for reflection.
Sincerely,
Fred Agnostakis

Crosses
giant twisted columns
uneven
filled with grey
dust-consecrated iron

so much sun drifting here –
carefully outlining smoke

it falls lightly, as if
to kneel, gently
shaken down from heaven,
around so many Crosses

embedded, silent, jagged,
ripped, entering our hearts like
stones at the altar –
smoldering, silent, aching to speak

Frederick Agnostakis, 9/12/01

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-17T14:13:00.003-05:00

I’ve attached a link to a beautiful article on CNN, which I feel covers the Holiday Season and our wishes for a Happy New Year quite well. It’s about a 12 year old young lady named Sadako Sasaki and her mission to fold 1000 origami cranes for peace.

Have a wonderful holiday with family and friends as we look forward to a better New Year. During this season of togetherness, please also remember our men and women in uniform who are far from home.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T10:59:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving is a very special day of the year. It is a day when we pause and give thanks for the good things in our lives. We celebrate our family, friends and colleagues, and give thanks for all those nameless people that briefly enrich our lives everyday.

As we enjoy this special day, we must not forget its source. So let’s make this Thanksgiving Day our first to remember our past, what was given to us, and how thankful we are to our forefathers for making it possible. Let’s lift our glasses to our brave men and women in uniform that are protecting our freedoms as our forefathers did. Let’s remember the past in a fond way and use those memories to make tomorrow a better one for all mankind.

May God bless us all.

Tribute Welcomes the USS NEW YORK crew

2009-11-06T13:42:00.004-05:00

Yesterday afternoon we had the incredible honor of hosting groups of sailors from the USS NEW YORK and their families through the Tribute Center and then at a welcome dinner at 7 World Trade Center. The FDNY, NYPD and PAPD also lent us a hand in our welcome. I can’t tell how excited the kids were with our uniformed guys and gals -- it made for a great photo op! I was pleased to see so many of the sailors that I met while we were on-board the USS New York -- whom I now call my friends -- and their families.

I spoke at the event of the bravery of the men and women who choose to put themselves in harm's way to serve our country, and I couldn’t be more proud. I wish them good luck and Godspeed on all of their missions on this incredible ship.

Jennifer Adams and I were presented with an amazing plaque from the city of New Orleans, where the USS NEW YORK was built. It combined steel from the World Trade Center and wood from a shrimp boat destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, a beautiful combination of how strong both of our cities are in the wake of disaster. I can’t express how moved I was by this gift, and can’t wait to hang it up for public view very soon.

USS NEW YORK in New York City

2009-11-03T15:54:00.005-05:00

On November 2nd, the USS NEW YORK sailed up the Hudson and stopped across from the World Trade Center site to render a 21 gun salute in honor of all those lost of Sept. 11th. Jennifer Adams and I have been working closely with the commissioning committee of the USS NEW YORK, the Commander of the ship, Curt Jones, and his crew for the last year and a half. Because of our ties with the USS NY, we were asked if we would like to be on board for this special event. Our response was quick and to the point -- YES!

We were flown out at 9:30 Sunday morning by chopper and spent the day and night with the crew -- and what a crew it is! Most are from the ages 18 to 24 and are proud and honored to be a part of history. From the Commander down, you could feel the excitement; it’s almost palpable on occasions like this. It makes me so happy to see these tremendous kids, whom I believe to be part of the next "greatest generation." I love our military.

Victims' relatives, survivors and others from Tribute will be greeting the crew later on this week and giving tours of the WTC site. We will also host a reception for their families at 7 WTC.

As Jennifer Adams said in the N.Y. Times “to the families in our community, [the USS NEW YORK] means a tremendous amount...It’s a symbol that the spirit of their loved ones will be remembered.”

If you have a chance this week, please stop by during public visiting hours and see the USS NEW YORK docked at Pier 88.

USS NEW YORK renders a 21 gun salute at the WTC site

Opening of USS NEW YORK: In Tribute

2009-10-30T15:40:00.004-04:00

This morning we opened our newest exhibit, “USS NEW YORK: In Tribute,” in honor of the commissioning of the USS NEW YORK next Saturday, November 7th. The exhibition looks wonderful, and is a real testament to the men and women who serve our country, as well as the incredible shipbuilders in Louisiana who put their heart and soul into this ship. As a family member, I feel that by having this exhibit honoring the USS NEW YORK, as well as its builders and crew, we are also paying tribute to our loved ones. We are upholding our message to never forget and that we're standing strong for them.

I invite you all to come to the Tribute Center and explore this great exhibit. And if you get a chance, please go visit the USS NEW YORK while it is docked in New York City next week!

Somos Americanos and a visit from President Aznar

2009-10-16T13:51:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we celebrated Hispanic Heritage month at the Tribute Center by hosting a public program called “Somos Americanos: Responses to 9/11 from the Latino Artistic Community.” Six artists with roots in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Spain came to speak of the work that they had done to reflect on the events of September 11th, and every one of them had a very different, yet very powerful, take. Many of the artists spoke of working with and reaching out to the youth, which is, as you know, a subject very close to my heart. Thank you Jose Rodeiro, Milton Rosa-Ortiz, Morena Saenz, Calogero Salvo, Monika Bravo and Cruz Angeles for taking the time to speak to us and many people from the community, and thank you Alyshia Galvez, Assistant Professor of Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies at Lehman College, for moderating the program.

Prior to the program last night, we were honored to show Former President of the Spanish Government, Jose Maria Aznar, around the Tribute Center and speak to him about our common goals. I have met with him before in Madrid and shared our thoughts that through enlightenment of our young, we can make advancement in peace. It was wonderful to be able to lead him through Tribute and show him the work that we’ve done here. I’d like to thank the President for taking time out of his busy schedule and I look forward to working with him and the FAES Foundation in the future.

Tribute in Madrid

2009-10-01T16:08:00.003-04:00

I was lucky enough to travel to Madrid, Spain last week on an invitation from the International Observatory on Victims of Terrorism, founded by San Pablo CEU University. I was among other family members and victims of terrorism from Spain and the United States, as well as many students from the University and a local high school, who were there to participate in an act of commemoration at a monument entitled “The Door of Remembrance." We took part in the placing of a wreath to commemorate and remember all those killed by the act of terrorism. We also visited the memorial for the 191 people killed and almost 3,000 injured in the March 11, 2004 Madrid bombings, called “The Woods of the Absent,” This memorial, located in Retiro Park, has a profound affect on all those that see it and are able to ascend to its highest point. The number of evergreens that are planted along its path to the top equal the number of those murdered.

Laying a wreath at the "Door of Remembrance"

"The Woods of the Absent" at Retiro Park

During my visit, I met with members of many different Spanish Victim Associations to learn about their missions and social commitments. I sat in on organizational meetings about the International Congress on Victims of Terrorism, which takes place every year both in Spain and abroad. The meetings were incredibly informational and showed how passionate these groups are about moving forward in a positive direction. It is always wonderful to recognize a common goal, and it will be a pleasure and an honor to work with these and other international groups towards our common goals for the future. By uniting and enlightening as one voice in a global fight against terrorism, we stand together as one voice for a common cause.

DIA Memorial at Bolling Air Force Base

2009-09-21T10:43:00.004-04:00

I want to take a moment today to show you all the newest 9/11 memorial for the Defense Intelligence Agency at Bolling Air Force Base. The DIA lost 7 people at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and wanted to create their own specific memorial. This memorial was unveiled 8 years later, on September 11, 2009.

I really like the symbolization used in this memorial, especially the unity and strength of the American Flag. It reminds us that in tough times, like in the aftermath of 9/11, we must all work together and not let our differences tear us apart.

But I especially like the James Henry Leigh Hunt quote used on one of the panels, which goes along nicely with the mission of the Tribute Center. I always talk about education and enlightenment as the good things that we must take away from the horrible events of September 11th, and this quote sums up these ideas perfectly:

“Whenever evil befalls us, we ought to ask ourselves, after the first suffering, how we can turn it into good. So shall we take occasion, from one bitter root, to raise perhaps many flowers.”

9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance Event

2009-09-14T17:34:00.004-04:00

Last Thursday, we had the great opportunity to participate in a USO care package-stuffing event, the brainchild of 9/11 volunteer and September 11th Families' Association CEO Jennifer Adams, that we hosted with the USO. Over 300 volunteers assembled over 7200 care packages in 1 ½ hours for the men and women serving our country (breaking a USO record, may I add!). I have always been a supporter of the USO and it means a great deal to me to be able to unite so many people in thanking the US military by sending them a touch of home. We were joined by a wide range of those affected by 9/11, including NYPD, FDNY, high school students from the New York City High School for Leadership and Public Service, colleagues of those lost in the tragedy from companies formally located in the World Trade Center, Tribute Center volunteers, and survivors who worked in the buildings.

Volunteers make USO care packages - Courtesy Joe Woolhead

Signing an American Flag to be given to the USS New York -
Courtesy Joe Woolhead

We at the Tribute Center believe that we must look towards tomorrow and the good that will come out of the horrible events of 9/11, so this event was a wonderful way to honor those lives lost by giving our time to help those who serve our country.

Click here for some in depth coverage on the event.

Volunteers Wanted

2009-09-08T17:23:00.001-04:00

As the 8th anniversary of September 11, 2001 approaches, I thought it was important to share some important information about our volunteer program. I’ve gone on and on about our incredible volunteers, and would love for more people to get involved.

We at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center invite those personally affected by September 11, 2001, to volunteer by sharing their stories with visitors from around the world. Volunteers lead walking tours, gallery guide, and work on administrative projects. Volunteer hours are flexible and can be scheduled 7 days a week, with a minimum commitment of 4 hours per month.

The program brings together people who want to tell about their experience and visitors who truly want to hear these stories. The more people hear and are educated by these personal interactions, the less likely people are to become complacent as to what happened on 9/11/01. By volunteering and telling your story, you will be helping us as a city, nation, and world to “Never Forget.”

If you are interested, please contact Tracy Grosner, Volunteer Program Coordinator, 212.422.3520, ext. 112, volunteer@tributewtc.org.

Tribute Center Visitor Cards: Education and Service

2009-08-28T16:02:00.003-04:00

As the week comes to a close, I wanted to leave you all some inspiring visitor cards for the weekend.

It seems that many of our visitors agree with me that education is the most important aspect in the fight against terrorism. The sentiments are always the same: teaching each other, and ourselves, the values of tolerance and love is the only way that our world will ever see peace.

In addition, I wanted to also add a card from a visitor who had a great idea as to how to give back, and followed it through. With this year being the first ever 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, I think it's very important for each of us to reflect as to how we will both serve our communities and remember the victims this year.

Last steel column returns to the WTC site

2009-08-24T17:29:00.003-04:00

This morning I was honored to be a part of the ceremony that brought the last steel column removed from the World Trade Center back to the site and to its permanent home at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. This is a very important moment, as this beam represents the hard work and dedication of all those who worked in the recovery effort after September 11th, as well as serves as a memorial for all who gave their lives.

I met many men and women today from the FDNY and NYPD, as well as laborers, construction workers and volunteers that spent many months in the recovery work who were here to once again pay their respects. This time, however, the column represented a sign of progress that meant we will never forget the past. This column bears witness to the most tragic day in our country's history, but also assures that nothing will stop us from preserving our freedom.

9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance

2009-08-13T14:52:00.003-04:00

As the anniversary of September 11, 2001 draws closer, I want to share a way that you can get involved.

Earlier this year, the President signed a law that makes September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance. It encourages all Americans to become involved in a volunteer project of their choice. What this means is that we should all choose one good deed that we can do to honor the victims of 9/11. It doesn’t matter what you do, just pick something close to your heart. By becoming involved in the spirit of helping, you will also be building on one of the cornerstones that our great country was founded on – volunteerism.

David Paine and Jay Winuk, the founders of MyGoodDeed.org, are the driving force behind 9/11 becoming a day of service. David and Jay’s vision is to annually rekindle the remarkable spirit of unity and service that existed in our nation in the days following the attacks. By reliving this unity, we can honor the victims and pay tribute to the many that rose to service in response to 9/11, including those in the military.

So – think about how you will spend your Day of Service this September 11th. And if you have a great idea, let us all know! Share your plan in the comments below, as well as at 911day.org.

Docent Picnic

2009-08-12T10:18:00.003-04:00

Hey, let me tell you about a great place some of us from the Tribute Center visited this past weekend.

We had a picnic for all of our guides and staff: a yearly event that brings out a great group of our folks that have given some of their time to remembering 9/11. Well, the picnic site was at Picnic Point…what a place! No crowds, lots of room, picnic tables, umbrellas, Adirondack chairs, wonderful view, and best of all, a boat ride. All this for free!

Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this, because you’ll want to go there, and then more people will spread the word, and before long there will be no room! But I will, because it’s something you all should experience...did I mention the fantastic view of Lady Liberty and Ellis Island? Hey, I think I just gave it away. Oh well, you guessed it -- Governors Island, what a gem of a place and I can’t wait to go back!

View from Picnic Point on Governors Island

The Origami Crane as a Symbol of Peace

2009-08-04T16:54:00.003-04:00

We try to make sure that our visitors leave uplifted after the emotional experience of going through Tribute, and some of the most beautiful and inspiring objects that we have to do so are our origami cranes. The origami crane is a Japanese symbol of peace, and many paper cranes were left on the fence around the WTC site in honor of the 26 Japanese nationals lost on September 11, 2001. In addition to some of these original cranes, over 10,000 paper cranes were donated to the Tribute Center by the families and co-workers of those lost at Fuji Bank, as well as from school children from 5 different schools in Hiroshima. They provide a beautiful and appropriate entrance for when our visitors go down the stairs and into our fifth gallery, which speaks of hope for the future.

Origami Cranes at the Tribute Center

In September of 2007, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center had the honor of being given the gift of one of Sadako Sasaki's original origami cranes by her brother, Masahiro Sasaki. Sadako, a child who developed and passed away from leukemia after being exposed to radiation in the bombing of Hiroshima, has been immortalized as a symbol of the wish for international peace. After her death, her family kept 5 of her cranes until 2007, when they decided to donate one to each of 5 continents. For the continent of North America, they donated a crane to us. In donating Sadako's crane to Tribute, Masahiro Sasaki said that he wishes that New York City and Hiroshima will continue to keep the memory of the tragedies alive so they will never be repeated again.

Tomorrow, August 5, 2009 at 6:30pm, we will once again be celebrating this donation with a free public program. Kazuko Minamoto from the Japan Society will give a presentation about the meaning of origami cranes in Japan and their use as a symbol of healing and peace. Here at the Tribute Center, we feel it is very important to educate ourselves and each other about other cultures, in order to lead to a more tolerant and peaceful world.

I hope to see you all tomorrow!

Tribute Center Visitor Cards

2009-07-23T09:50:00.005-04:00

Summer is finally upon us, after a long, rainy spring (even fish were saying, "enough already!"). We have to remember, though, that rain is good, it brings life. Without it's nourishment, where would we be? At the Tribute Center, we try to do the same thing as rain - help nourish and build for a better future. By being the only entity at the World Trade Center site for the time being, we have the obligation help our visitors remember September 11th as well as promote good sound thoughts for a more peaceful future. It seems from the well over 100,000 visitor cards we have received, from all over the world, that we have inspired people to remember as they move forward.

I will be adding cards on my blog regularly. They convey the feelings of our visitors -- meaningful and powerful messages that should be read by all. If you can't make it to the Tribute Center but would like to share your own thoughts, please do so on this blog!

Here is the first batch:

Busy day at Tribute!

2009-07-22T10:54:00.009-04:00

We had quite a busy day here yesterday at the Tribute Center! First, we welcomed a group of representatives from Australia and the Australian Navy, including Consul General Mr. Phillip Scanlan and Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Nigel Coates. This marked the first time that the HMAS Sydney, the HMAS Ballarat, and the USS Mahan had docked in New York, and it was a privilege to give our guests a tour of Tribute before they went to lay a wreath at the site. The group was clearly very moved, and spoke as all of our international guests speak about 9/11: that it was an international event, and they stand strong with us in the hopes for a better future. We are very lucky to have our friends in Australia as allies, and we are extremely appreciative that they took the time to visit us.

After that, I met with Captain John McGregor from the Orange County Fire Department. John and his wife wanted to find a way to give back after 9/11, so they created FDNY memorial bracelets. Over the past 8 years, the proceeds from these bracelets have been given to various September 11th charities, and this morning, Captain McGregor gave the remainder of the proceeds to the September 11th Families’ Association. Words cannot express how appreciative we are of this generous donation, not only for us but for all the people Captain McGregor and his family have helped in the past as well.

Later on in the afternoon, I went down to the Tribute Center to meet a group of European Rabbis and Imams from the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. I can’t think of a more appropriate group to come to visit Tribute – the fact that this foundation exists only supports our mission of education and tolerance.

Tribute Docent Gerry Bogacz speaks to the FFEU

From the first group this morning to our last group this afternoon, every one of them agreed with our thoughts of enlightenment as the key to understanding our differences. If we all continue to learn about and except others’ differences, we will be taking the right step towards all living together in peace.

The Dunkin Cup: Part 2

2009-07-21T15:16:00.002-04:00

Insights on the Dunkin' Cup by my good friend and one of our Tribute volunteers, Fred Sager:

On June 29, 2009, Blake Simpson and I had the honor of representing the Tribute Center at a charity golf outing. The Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins franchises sponsored the event, which was held at a beautiful course in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. I generally shy away from entering the state of New Jersey, but for a great cause as this I was willing to make an exception. Seriously, have you ever made the mistake of missing your exit on a New Jersey highway? U-turns are impossible. You essentially have to go back home and start over.

When we arrived at the Ramblewood Country Club, we were instantly greeted and assisted by the volunteers from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins Community Foundation. We were made to feel welcome and totally at home.

One of the most stressful aspects of playing in an organized golf outing like this is waiting to see who you will be teamed up with to complete your foursome. Instead of playing with two guys who show up dressed like the late Payne Stewart, we encountered Toni and Tom from the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corp. When I asked Toni how long she had been playing golf, her response was “this is my first time, except of course miniature golf”. Yeah, I know Toni, that windmill can be tough!

The golf was a lot of fun. My buddy Blake was a much better golfer than I had expected. He was clearly the best of the four of us.

Even more enjoyable than the golf were the festivities that followed the match. The Foundation provided us with a nice dinner and an extensive selection of prizes that we were able to bid on. There were many sports related items, including autographed memorabilia, baseball camps and dozens of Mets and Yankees tickets. I spent most of my tickets bidding on a guitar autographed by the band Three Days Grace. I also bid on a pair of Betsey Johnson pajamas. I know, I know, I can’t explain it.

As Blake and I headed away from the country club, I found myself thinking of one thing. All we hear about in the news lately is how terribly our country is fairing economically. What continues to happen behind the scenes though, are foundations like this, who are still out there working hard to raise money for deserving causes. Organizations like the September 11th Families' Association are able to benefit because groups like The Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins franchises still care.

In case you’re wondering, I was able to make it back through New Jersey without having to make a single U-turn. Thank you.

The Dunkin Cup: Part 1

2009-07-10T14:40:00.003-04:00

Hey, I was threatened by Blake Simpson and Freddy Sager that I had better talk about their experience playing golf with one of our sponsors, the Dunkin Donuts Community Foundation. So here it is, in two installments.

By the way, I was also asked to play, but I would rather fish the hazards. And that just would not go over well with the grounds people.

Here is the first installment, from Blake Simpson, our Development Consultant:

On June 29, 2009, Freddy Sager and I were invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Dunkin Cup, a golf outing hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Dunkin Donuts & Baskin Robbins Community Foundation, at beautiful Ramblewood Country Club in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

This outing was held to recognize the generous support from Dunkin Donut & Baskin Robbins franchisees, corporate employees, suppliers and customers to the foundation while displaying the impact the foundation has on communities throughout the country. The September 11th Families’ Association feels truly blessed to be associated with such a wonderful company that understands the importance of supporting local communities.

Now to the golf, if you want to call it golf. Fred and I arrived to Ramblewood Country Club around 11 o’clock to be greeted by the welcoming committee and a buffet lunch that could have fed an army. After having lunch (Fred had two sandwiches), we decided to bid on a couple of items that the foundation was presenting for a silent auction to be held after the round. The items ranged from front row Met and Yankee tickets to cases of wine and designer handbags. Both Freddy and I were very impressed!

We teed off at 1 o’clock with another twosome, Toni and Tom from the Mineola EMT on Long Island. They were extremely friendly and great sports that didn’t take the golf too seriously. That benefited Freddy and me, because we were just enjoying the 85 degree day with a couple of good shots and a lot of laughs!

The day concluded with a great BBQ on the patio coupled with plenty of stories we all shared about a wonderful day.

Freddy and I were overwhelmed by the hospitality and kindness that everyone displayed from the Dunkin Donuts Community Foundation. Thank you for a special day!

London Bombing Anniversary

2009-07-07T12:12:00.003-04:00

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the July 7th bombings in London. At 8:50am on that fateful day, three bombs exploded within 50 seconds of each other at three different stations (King’s Cross, Edgware Road, and Aldgate) of the London Underground. Fifty-seven minutes later, a fourth bomb exploded on a bus in Tavistock Square. Four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people (not including themselves), injured 700, and severely disrupted both the transportation and telecommunication system in London.

This morning in Hyde Park, London, a memorial was unveiled for the 52 victims of this senseless act. 52 steel pillars have been stamped with a date, time and location, but the names have been left off to represent the random nature of the loss of life that horrible day.

My heart goes out to the families of these victims, and I hope that this memorial provides them with a fitting place to go and celebrate their lost loved ones. I know how important having a physical space to visit can be, and I hope that this memorial, much like the Tribute Center, is able to bring families together in a place where they can heal.

Thinking about this terrible act, which only happened 4 years ago, brings me back to what I said on my last blog post. We can’t let time erase what happened. Although important, we have to do more than create memorials. We need to educate our young to these acts of terror, how we have gotten ourselves to this point in history and how it will affect them in the future. This can and must be done in a meaningful and constructive way. It’s up to us to make a positive difference, but only if we are willing to make a commitment to improve our system of education.

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-02T16:27:00.002-04:00

Hey my friends, it’s the 4th of July and I wish you all a great holiday. Here is a little background info about our GREAT holiday, courtesy of Wikipedia:

“In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.”

I was especially moved by a quote in this article from one of our great forefathers, John Adams, in a letter to his wife, Abigail. His prediction was off by two days, but sums up the feeling of America and what our forefathers gave us:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

We celebrate July 4th with fireworks and parades every year, but do we really remember what our forefathers gave us? I don’t think so. And I think this forgetfulness stems from the problems within our school system. We are so focused on tests and scores that our teachers don’t have the time to teach this important history. So it’s time to strengthen our resolve and give the classroom back to teachers. We can’t let bureaucrats dictate how our schools should be run; we have to leave education to the experts – those teachers who have dedicated their lives and education to teaching our young.

With that thought, enjoy what our forefathers have given us and what our young men and women continue to protect everyday.

Happy 4th of July America!

NS11MM exhibit at the Center for Architecture

2009-06-26T15:49:00.002-04:00

Last night, the Center for Architecture opened an exhibition entitled “The Space Within: The National September 11th Memorial and Museum.” This exhibit explores the construction and content of the future museum and memorial, and what it means to build on such hallowed ground. The exhibit will run until September 14th.

I attended the opening reception last night, and “The Space Within” struck me as very well done and extremely meaningful. It reflects very well on the Memorial Foundation and their efforts to make a world class museum and memorial to honor the lives lost at the World Trade Center site in 1993 and 2001, as well as those who were lost at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA on September 11th. As shown in part by this exhibit, the National September 11 Museum and Memorial will soon provide an essential educational experience which I believe is crucial in helping our world work towards living in peace.

Father's Day

2009-06-19T10:35:00.002-04:00

Let’s take a moment this Father’s Day and reflect back, as I do every Father’s Day, to Father’s Day on June 17, 2001. My son Jonathan, Squad 288, and I were in his car, listening to his scanner, when we heard of an explosion and fire in the Long Island City area of Queens. We responded from home to see if we could help in any way. Little did either of us know that we would wind up in a Fire Department ambulance giving C.P.R. to a dear friend and great firefighter, Harry Ford, Rescue 4 FDNY, or that Harry, along with Brian Fahey, also Rescue 4, and John Downing, Ladder 163, would die that tragic Father’s Day.

Firefighting was my son Jonathan’s calling. I never could imagine on Father’s Day in 2001, when I was so proud of his dedication, that he would die 3 months later at the World Trade Center.

We need to stop and reflect on the many “Dads” that have made what some call the supreme sacrifice but what I would describe as doing what they loved to do -- fight fires and help people. What more dedication can we ask of our fellow man than to lay down his life for others?

So, let’s enjoy this special day called Father’s Day. I hope that you all share this day with your loved ones, but also take a moment to say thank you to those that aren’t here and to the children who will never be able to call out “Hey Dad!” again.

A thought,

It is our obligation to our dead – it is our sacred obligation to their children and to our children – that we must never forget what we have learned. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 9 December, 1941

Reflecting on the last two months

2009-06-17T13:11:00.003-04:00

Hey, what can I say? These last several weeks have been absolutely unbelievable. We at the September 11th Families’ Association and the Tribute WTC Visitor Center have had the incredible opportunity to speak to literally thousands of people from around the country and the world, and not just at the Tribute Center. We started by visiting students at Loyola University in Chicago, followed by two separate schools in Wilmington, North Carolina. We’ve been to Colombia, South America to meet with the International Congress of Victims of Terrorism and speak to over 1200 people. We will continue to work with the Congress, which we feel confident will have a tremendous impact on terrorism. Lastly, we are just back from Verona, New York, just outside of Syracuse, where we met with hundreds of firefighters and presented “Performing Tribute.”

As mentioned in my last blog post, six of our volunteer guides gave a fabulous performance in Verona that brought the audience to a standing ovation. I’ve included a photo of them back stage before the performance.

L to R: Fred Sager, Gerry Bogacz, Ann Van Hine,
Gail Langsner, Desiree Bouchat and Paul McFadden

It has been a busy 2 months, but well worth it to continue to get the word out about the Tribute Center and spread our ideas on the importance of education. Let me know if you have any questions about what we are doing, where we are going, or what is happening at the site. It always helps to hear from you.

My thought of the week:

We all posses the strength and qualities that can influence people’s ideas in a positive way.

Tribute in Verona: Performing Tribute

2009-06-12T10:22:00.004-04:00

I want to congratulate our amazing docents and great stage crew on a wonderful performance at the FIRE 2009 Expo last night. Everyone who experienced "Performing Tribute" was incredibly moved, including myself. Special thanks to Gerry Bogacz, Desiree Bouchat, Gail Langsner, Paul McFadden, Fred Sager, Ann Van Hine, Donna Kaz, Patrick Southern, and Sarah Locke for making the long trip up to Verona for this important event.

To read more about "Performing Tribute" and watch a video about our participation in the FIRE 2009 Expo, please click here.

Tribute in Verona - Day one of the FIRE 2009 Expo

2009-06-10T15:53:00.005-04:00

Some of my good friends from the Tribute Center and I arrived in Verona, NY last night for the New York State Association of Fire Chief's FIRE 2009 Expo. The September 11th Families' Association was very fortunate to be given a booth right near the registration desk for this event, so we are getting the word out about the Tribute Center to as many participants as possible. It is an exciting new direction for the Tribute Center, and we hope to inspire some of those who are involved with the Fire Department throughout the great state of New York to visit the Tribute Center or, better yet, volunteer their time as one of our guides.

We've spent the day today setting up our booth and walking around the beautiful Turning Stone Resort and Casino. We've talked to several people who are here for today's educational programming, discussed the importance of Tribute with a few reporters, and have even run into some old friends.

As we speak, some of our volunteers are arriving to set up for our big event at FIRE 2009 -- Performing Tribute, which we will be presenting tomorrow, June 11th, at 6pm. We will share this inspirational performance with this group in hopes that our "Person to Person History" will touch a few lives while we are on the road.

I look forward to meeting even more NYS Firefighters tomorrow and watching our incredible docents perform. And, since I have such a great crew behind me, I'm sure I'll sneak off for a few minutes to check out the Expo. It never hurts to check out the newest toys of the trade.

And yes, I've even checked out a few of the slot machines here at Turning Stone. But just to see if they work.

Tribute in Colombia - A trip that will never be forgotten

2009-06-03T17:11:00.004-04:00

We’re back from our trip to Medellin, Colombia in South America for the 5th annual convention of the International Congress of Victims of Terrorism. It was one of those events that stays with you, and rightfully so. We were able to network with many incredible people, including sisters María Elvira Paz and María Victoria Paz, who joined the Comision Victimas Civiles in Argentina after their father was murdered by a terrorist.

The objective of The International Congress of Victims of Terrorism is to address the rights of victims and to give them the acknowledgment, the visibility, the voice, and the legitimacy that they deserve in a democratic society. Most of the 1400 to 1600 folks that attended the conference were victims and many of them had visible physical scars. Many, many others carried with them a psychological impact that was not visible until they spoke, and then the heartache they carry and the tortures they endured show. There is no way to explain it, and there is no better way to show it to the world then to have victims of terrorism tell their story.

"When you bring terrorism victims together, you find that we have a common language, a common pain," said one victim who lost her daughter. "Terrorism has changed almost everything in my life, and since then I remind people, even in my country, how essential it is to stop terrorism."

Ken Thomson, whose mother was a victim of the Oklahoma City bombing, said, "Through the pain we have an unspoken bond…We owe it to our loved ones to care about other victims regardless of their country, culture, or faith."

Terrorism goes beyond politics and there are times that more can be done by leaving politics out of the picture. This, I feel, is just that time. I attended the International Congress of Victims of Terrorism with an open mind and the thought and hope that great things could come from it. I left with an even greater feeling of hope, and I feel in my heart that a conference such as this can have a tremendous impact against terrorism by uniting victims together.

This ties in to the thought for the week,
I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little better for my having lived in it. Abraham Lincoln

Tribute on the USS Iwo Jima - Guest Blogger Kimberly Grieger

2009-05-29T16:06:00.003-04:00

Thoughts from Kimberly Grieger, our Family Liaison, who also worked at the WTC site with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army:

Being a guest on the USS Iwo Jima for 3 nights was an extraordinary privilege. Seeing the discipline and hard work of our military up close made me realize anew how many sacrifices our sailors and soldiers routinely make. The amount of work going on around me even during our all-too-brief trip was very impressive.

It was fascinating to learn something about what happens on an amphibious assault ship: flight deck operations, well deck operations --- where they actually flood part of the ship and bring amphibious craft onboard – everything was new and exciting to me.

I met a Marine tank crew who had just returned from 7 months in Iraq, during which they lived in the tank they helped me into – a tiny, comfortless space. They spoke cheerfully about the hardships they had faced and thanked me for being interested enough to ask questions.

We were treated with great politeness and kindness– even my silliest questions were answered patiently, and no matter how many times we got lost, we were directed or escorted to our destination with good humour.

Lee gave two presentations about September 11th onboard – one to the Damage Control crew of the Iwo Jima, and one to the 21 members of the crew of the USS New York who were traveling to Fleet Week. We were able to talk informally to many members of the crew about our experiences of September 11th as well. It was a special privilege to discuss September 11th and its effects with people who joined the military because of the attacks and to people whose military service changed so drastically after the attacks. There was a real kinship among us, and I certainly hope that we can continue our relationship with both crews.

Tribute on the USS Iwo Jima - Guest Blogger Josie Chiles

2009-05-29T11:30:00.006-04:00

In order to keep this blog fresh (and to fill in while I'm attending the 5th Meeting of the Congress on Terrorism in Columbia, South America!), I've asked two of my colleagues, Kimberly Grieger and Josie Chiles, to guest blog about their experiences on the USS Iwo Jima.

Here are some thoughts from Josie, our Development Coordinator:

My time on the USS Iwo Jima was an exciting, unique, and humbling experience. I had no idea what to expect but, when I boarded the 20 seat Navy helicopter and realized that there was not a back door and my seat was practically in the open sky, it became clear that it was going to be a true adventure. What struck me most about the ship was how friendly and generous everyone was to us and to each other. Within 45 minutes of landing on the flight deck I had already been taken to the bridge of the ship and allowed to take the helm. It is a very powerful (and somewhat frightening) feeling to drive a $1 billion Naval ship. At Lee’s prodding I was also able to speak with many of the Marines about their vehicles and weapons. Hearing their stories and being able to physically connect with vehicles and weapons gave me a completely new understanding of the battlefield. We were also fortunate enough to find a special onboard memorial to the men who fought at the battle of Iwo Jima. The pictures and stories brought to life to the motto of the USS Iwo Jima, “Uncommon Valor Was a Common Virtue.”

Wednesday morning we sailed into New York harbor at dawn. There was a monumental feeling to seeing the Marines and Navy manning the rails as the city skyline appeared. I can’t image what it must have been like for sailors and Marines, especially since for so many of them this was their first view of New York. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the trip possible and to everyone aboard the ship, each of whom made our trip special.

Tribute on the USS Iwo Jima

2009-05-26T17:09:00.004-04:00

This past week and a half has been very moving, memorable, and emotional.

It started with the preparations for our trip to The United States Naval Ship Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. On Sunday, May 17th, Kimberly Grieger and I traveled down to Virginia and the adventure began. We spent 3 nights sailing up to NY on board the USS Iwo Jima, the lead ship in the Fleet Week 2009 Parade of Ships. Josie Chiles, also from our staff, flew out by helicopter on Tuesday, which was quite an exciting journey for her. The 3 of us, representing the September 11th Families’ Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Center, had the amazing opportunity to play a brief yet important part in the lives of many of the men and women on board.

We met 23 sailors from the new crew of the USS New York, which will be commissioned here in New York City on November 7, 2009. The ship has 7 ½ tons of steel from the World Trade Center within the bow stem, which is the first part of the ship that cuts through the water. Mark November 7th down in your calendar, because it will be one of the more memorable and moving moments in the history of 9/11. We are working closely with the commissioning committee for the christening of the USS New York and we will be passing along more info as the time draws closer.

We also had the honor meeting with Commander Curt Jones, who will be the first Captain of the USS New York. We showed Commander Jones and his crew a great documentary produced by Northrop Grumman about of the building of the ship and the important role of the September 11th Families’ Association in this process, as well as a power point that we put together about the trials and tribulations of working at the World Trade Center site. During this trip, we built a very special bond with the crew, and are very proud to have met such gracious and dedicated men and women who protect our freedoms at all costs.

My thought of the week:
It is the Veteran, not the preacher, who gave us FREEDOM of religion.
It is the Veteran, not the reporter, who gave us FREEDOM of the press.

Fleet Week at Tribute

2009-05-22T16:07:00.004-04:00

We’ve been welcoming the amazing men and women from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard since Fleet Week started on Wednesday, but today we got a very special treat. A group of sailors from the USS New York, the soon-to-be commissioned Amphibious Transport Dock Ship that carries 7 tons of WTC steel in its hull, came to the Tribute Center to complete a day of service.

After giving this great group a tour of Tribute, we went up to the office to enjoy lunch and share stories. In fact, a few people in the group, including Chaplain Laura J. Bender, sat down and gave oral histories for our upcoming exhibition about the USS New York, set to open this fall. This is already shaping up to be a fascinating exhibit, so I hope to see you all at the opening!

After lunch, we all went back to the Tribute Center and our visitors were kind enough to help lead a group of Wounded Warriors through Tribute, as well as help us paint our retail room! For people who give of themselves everyday out of service to us and our country, it was incredibly kind of them to come to Tribute and give even more. We were honored to have them visit, and we can’t wait to see them all again at the commissioning of the USS New York on November 7th.

Fleet Week 2009

2009-05-18T09:22:00.003-04:00

We at the Tribute Center are looking forward to welcoming the brave men and women from the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and the United States Coast Guard for Fleet Week 2009! If you see any of these heroes around New York City this week, please give them a smile or a handshake to thank them for all of the great work that they do. If you'd like to participate in any public Fleet Week events, please visit the schedule here.

Personally, I have the honor of coming in on the USS Iwo Jima during the "Parade of Ships" this Wednesday, May 20th. I will tell you all about this experience once I get back, but I would love to see you all waving us in from the harbor on Wednesday!

U.S. - China Relations at the Tribute Center

2009-05-15T12:08:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, the Tribute Center was honored to welcome the Museums and Educational Outreach Delegation from China. This group has been developed by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations through an exchange program that allows professionals from China to share experiences and ideas on how to serve as educational resources and to engage and inspire young audiences.

Jennifer Adams, Wendy Aibel-Weiss (our Director of Education), and I gave nine museum educators from the National Art Museum of China, the Shanghai Museum, and the Hunan Provincial Museum a tour of Tribute. We are always grateful for the opportunity to share our ideas with wonderful groups such as this, especially because it fits in so well with our mission of education. We could tell that they appreciated what we have accomplished with the Tribute Center, and I hope that their visit will help them take back some important messages to their own museums. If the Tribute Center can help educate the young folks all over the world in some capacity, then we really are achieving what we had set out to do.

The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Tribute Center have worked together on other occasions and we look forward to an on-going exchange.

If any of you have ideas or know of other groups that can benefit from the Tribute Center experience, please let us know.

Let us know your thoughts!

2009-05-12T17:14:00.002-04:00

My last post about our wonderful volunteer guides ended with my thank you to them for being the life-blood of the Tribute Center. On walking tours, our guides have the opportunity to tell their own personal stories along with some facts about September 11th, which makes the experience more meaningful and powerful for the visitor and therapeutic for our volunteers themselves. To find out more about our tours and guides, visit the volunteer page on our website.

In the spirit of this Person to Person History, I’d also love to hear from all of you!

Have any of you been to the Tribute Center? Taken a tour?
If so, I would love to hear your thoughts on how we did. If not, well then I guess you’ll have to go so you can answer my questions!

If you can’t make it to the Tribute Center but live in upstate New York, we’d love it if you join us for a special performance of “Performing Tribute” in Verona, NY, on June 11th. This is a very moving presentation that weaves together six accounts of September 11, 2001, as told by FDNY, recovery workers, family members, survivors, and residents of Lower Manhattan. Please click here for more information or to purchase tickets. I hope to see you there!

Tribute in Montour Falls: New York State Fire Academy

2009-05-06T16:15:00.005-04:00

Last weekend I took a special trip to the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls, New York. Thanks to Chief Paul Martin and Chief Guy Swartwout from the Fire Academy for hosting me, and a special thank you to Chief William K. Owen, President of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, and his great staff for their interest in our work. The Chiefs’ Association felt that there is a need to educate their fire instructors on how to address the issue of 9/11 with the many students of all ages they meet with each day. I had the privilege to speak to 250 firefighter instructors from New York State, Maine, and

Canada

about how we are introducing the events of September 11^th to students at the Tribute Center.

Introducing 9/11 in the classroom has been difficult for educators, particularly classroom teachers, because many are still traumatized by the attacks themselves. Also, there is no requirement that they teach 9/11 as part of the curriculum. In fact, there is no state in America that has a curriculum in place to teach the history of September 11, 2001. I believe that it is imperative that we teach 9/11 because it is very much a part of the next generations’ lives.

I like to emphasize to students that the outpouring of compassion and humanity on September 11th and in the weeks and months afterwards showed us the good of which people area capable in the face of the horror and trauma. These positive instincts and the charitable acts and long term projects that resulted should be used as a model for the future. We will never let terrorism bring us down. We can and must unite to address the many challenges we face in our country and our world.

Our staff at the Tribute Center has begun writing a curriculum that we will use for the thousands of students that pass through our doors or who visit us online. I presented a brief introduction to the group at the Fire Academy and they received it with appreciation. There is more work ahead as we fine tune the materials so that they can be ready for testing this fall. In the meantime, I will be following up with ideas that you can use in the interim.

Here’s a thought of the week--

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

PARA, Inc. at Tribute

2009-05-05T16:49:00.008-04:00

This morning, the Tribute Center welcomed a group from the Port Authority Retirees Association (PARA, Inc.), the second half of a larger group that we also hosted last Tuesday. Both groups were given tours of the Tribute Center by some of our volunteers with personal ties to the Port Authority. As I’m sure I’ve made clear, I love talking to people and leading them through Tribute, so these visits are always a treat for me.

While talking to the members of this group, my colleagues and I all realized what incredible stories they have from working at the Port Authority from as far back as 1963 up to September 11, 2001. We at the Tribute Center are always trying to reach out to anyone who lived or worked in the area on 9/11 to encourage people to become one of our extraordinary guides. As we have learned from a recent docent study, one of the most important things that our volunteers take away from their involvement in our program is how crucial they are as participants in the documentation of world history. If you have a September 11^th story and would be interested in preserving history and educating others about 9/11, please visit our website. If you like the idea of being a guide but would not like to lead tours, please remember that there are plenty of volunteer opportunities within our gallery guide program as well. If you don’t live in the area but would like to share your September 11^th story or thoughts about your visit to the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, please email us at share@tributewtc.org.

I would like to thank Dick Helman, Holly Blauser, Jerry Doherty, and Rae Ann Hoffman for working with us to coordinate this event. I would also like to thank the volunteers from PARA, Inc. -- Dom Varicchio, Dick Lee, Dave Gallagher, Stan Raith, Al Pettenati, and Tom Kearney -- and of course our wonderful docents Mel Wasserman, Maria Malone-Hodges, Mary Lee Hannel, Peter Miller, Rita Schwartz, and Michele Davidson for donating their time to this cause.

Tribute Docent and Port Authority Retiree Rita Schwartz gives a tour to a group from PARA, Inc.

Celebrating One Million

2009-05-01T12:11:00.006-04:00

In the past month, we at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center have reached two incredible milestones. We have now educated over 1,000,000 people at our little Tribute Center and over 100,000 people on our volunteer-led walking tours. When I think about it, it is almost unbelievable that we were able to do so much in just two and a half years.

Last night was a wonderful evening to celebrate these great accomplishments by the September 11^th Families Association. On the 49^th floor of 7 World Trade Center, with an amazing 360 degree view of New York City, The Tribute Center honored 14 of our founding partners. Without them, we would not have been able to achieve this great success. It was a perfect view of the Tribute Center across the World Trade Center site where you can see the buildings rising and the memorial pools taking shape. Before the event, I toured the memorial area with Mayor Bloomberg and the National September 11^th Memorial and Museum Board of Directors. I was impressed with the amount of progress. The survivors’ staircase is in place. The slurry wall is being preserved as part of the memorial museum. The tour was very moving for all of us as Directors who have been working so hard for so many years.

At the event, I was able to express my gratitude to our volunteer family, which has grown to over 240 docents. I was so happy to have over 100 volunteers in attendance to celebrate serving over 100,000 visitors on Tribute Center walking tours. As I’ve said before, our volunteers are the heart of the Center and their dedication is commendable. Sharing their stories on our walking tours has allowed us to educate thousands of people from around the globe in a very personal exchange. I was so happy my wife Anne, my daughter Melissa, her husband Jon and my daughter-in-law Debra were able to join us to thank the Tribute Center staff for all of their hard work in creating a warm and welcoming place for visitors to remember my son Jonathan and all of the lives that were cut tragically short on 9/11.

The event was a huge success. Governor Paterson and two of our honorees, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, spoke about how the Tribute Center has helped the Lower Manhattan Community heal and remember with a positive and educational experience. In these difficult economic times, Mayor Bloomberg joked about how wonderful it was to celebrate a positive and amazing accomplishment. I am so proud that the Tribute Center has grown into a central place for the community to welcome visitors who want to remember 9/11 and share support among each other. We will never forget and we will grow stronger each day.

Tribute In North Carolina, Part 2

2009-04-28T16:49:00.005-04:00

We are back from our trip to Wilmington, North Carolina, and what a wonderful trip it was! The idea for this visit came from Elaine Andrews, who has been a friend of my oldest daughter, Anne Marie, since elementary school, and has lived in Wilmington for the past 15 years. Elaine feels, as we do, that enlightenment is the key for a better and safer tomorrow.

Fred Sager (one of our volunteer guides and great friend of mine for many years) and I gave 3 presentations. The first was at St. Mary Catholic School, specifically for the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students. The presentation went very well and all eyes and ears were on us. Like so many times before, the teachers mentioned that they had never seen their students so quiet and attentive with so many well focused and thought-out questions.

I would like to thank Mrs. Joyce Price, Principal of St Mary Catholic School, for having us, Mr. Larry (Mr. Mac) McFarlane, social studies instructor, and all the teachers who are obviously doing a wonderful job with their students. Special thanks also to Chuck Reimel, President of the St. Mary H.S.A., who sponsored our trip. A tip of the hat to you, Chuck.

That evening we gave a presentation to the general community of Wilmington. The group was very diverse and represented people who felt it important to learn more about 9/11, including those from the civilian community as well as the Fire and Police Departments. Some of the folks were even the parents of the students we had spoken to earlier. It’s refreshing to see parents being so active in their children’s education.

The following morning we had the pleasure to speak to the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade classes at Laney High School. This presentation was taped for showing to the general school population through the in-school video network. The students had the same reaction and response as did those at St. Mary.

Another thank you is in order to Mr. Travis Matthews, Director of Social Studies for the New Hanover County Schools, and Mrs. Cherie Furr, Laney High School Honors World History Instructor. Your dedication to your students and to the learning of history is commendable.

Last and by no means least, we were asked to speak with Curtis Wright on 93.7, The Big Talker FM. This gave us a great opportunity to present our thoughts and feelings to a very large population in Southern North Carolina. Curtis was extremely interested in the fact that there is no curriculum in place in any state to teach the history of 9/11. He has promised to start a petition to present to his state officials about developing a curriculum for all public schools. This is only one step in starting a movement that I hope will spread across the country. I will try to keep you up to date with the outcome and, as always, welcome your ideas and comments as to what you all can do in your communities to help.

Tribute in North Carolina

2009-04-23T09:34:00.005-04:00

As I write this, I’m getting ready for another trip -- this time to Wilmington, North Carolina. Fred Sager, one of our volunteer tour guides, and I will be giving a few different presentations: one to middle school students, one to high school students, and one to an adult audience from the Wilmington community.

Remember what I said about enlightening others? Well, in our presentations, we try to do just that. By speaking to others about our experiences on 9/11 and our work with the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, we hope to get them motivated to take action in their communities or to reach out to someone who may be less fortunate. Just as we ask the visitors to the Tribute Center to let us know what actions they can take in the spirit of Tribute, we ask those who hear our presentations to respond to the tragedy of September 11th by giving back to their community and making the world a better place.

I truly enjoy spreading this message, especially to our young folks.

While we are on the subject of enlightenment, if you have some thoughts on how you can proceed along these lines, please let me know. I am very interested to hear how all of you are giving back to your communities, not only here in our great country, but across this beautiful place we call Earth.

I would like to leave you with a segment that I will now call my “Thought of the Week:”

There is an intricate balance of give and take that is necessary to make the world a better place. In this world of give and take, are you willing to give what it takes?

Buy an Iced Coffee and Support our Troops

2009-04-20T16:48:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, is Iced Coffee Day at Dunkin’ Donuts. At any point during business hours, you can visit your local Dunkin’ Donuts store and purchase an iced coffee for only 50¢.

So what does this have to do with the Tribute WTC Visitor Center?

What many of you may not know is that the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation is dedicated to supporting emergency relief organizations. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of this foundation has extended their grant making to include support of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center’s volunteer program and outreach to first responders. We truly appreciate our partnership with the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation and value the wonderful work that they do.

In addition, 10% of tomorrow’s proceeds from Iced Coffee Day will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, a wonderful organization that helps severely injured veterans by building or adapting homes to be handicapped accessible. It is so important that we give back to those who have made such sacrifices to keep our country safe. We owe these men and women a debt of gratitude, and I applaud the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation and the Homes for Our Troops organization for understanding this.

So please support your local Dunkin’ Donuts tomorrow by purchasing an iced coffee – and by doing so, you will not only be supporting the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, but giving back to the men and women who selflessly serve to help keep this country great.

The Tribute Family: Our volunteer guides

2009-04-17T14:52:00.003-04:00

In between other stories that come up, I want to talk about the wonderful, hard working, and dedicated people that make up the September 11th Families’ Association and the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, from the volunteers to our C.E.O.

Let's start with the volunteers. The first thought of having guided tours started around March 2004, when a high school group visited from a small town called Phillipsburg, Kansas, in the bread basket of our country. Jennifer Adams (our Chief Executive Officer – whom I will write much more about later) saw a change in the faces of these young people when I started talking. From playing with their cell phones, talking to other students, or just being young people and fidgeting around, they became quiet and attentive with some serious and very well thought out questions. They became truly interested in what had happened to their country on 9/11. The seed was planted -- why not inspire others by giving guided tours around the site? From this, the volunteer program was born.

We decided to structure the program by utilizing, as we have now coined the phase, folks from the 9/11 community. This includes those who have lost a loved one, rescue workers, survivors, volunteers that came to help, and those that lived or worked in the area and saw things they never should have had to see.

Our first training program was in August 2004. The first group of 17 guides participated in a training course that started late Friday afternoon and continued most of the day on Saturday. We could see the genuine interest in their eyes and how therapeutic it would be for them to tell their stories to the world. We knew it would be a great success -- and 244 trained volunteers and 100,000 visitors later, it certainly is! Our guides help to keep the memories and facts of 9/11 alive for the thousands of visitors from around the world that are craving information about the attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The visitors want to know facts and our guides fill that gap.

I’d like to thank our volunteer guides for having the strength to share their stories. Because of you, our walking tours have inspired over 100,000 people from around the world. Congratulations on this incredible feat.

More about our extraordinary volunteers and staff in posts to come…

Immigrant Heritage Week

2009-04-13T16:36:00.004-04:00

Starting this Friday, April 17th, New York City will hold its 6th annual “Immigrant Heritage Week,” which includes free events and activities in all 5 boroughs. We at the Tribute Center are honored to be part of this celebration, and we will be holding three public programs this weekend in conjunction with Immigrant Heritage Week.

The first program is this coming Sunday, April 19th, at 1:00pm at the Tribute Center. We will be holding our 3rd annual Community Poetry Reading, in which poets with roots in Russia, Haiti, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Iran, and Argentina will read their poems reflecting ideas about the American Dream.

Directly after the reading, from 2:30pm to 4:00pm on April 19th, the Tribute Center will be highlighting the generous work of those involved in The 9/11 Project, which gave family members of people who were killed on September 11th pro bono legal assistance from some of New York’s top law firms. NYC Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs Guillermo Linares will explain the ways in which the city supported immigrants after September 11th and Mayor Bloomberg’s support for the work of the 9/11 Project.

Finally, at 6:30pm on Monday, April 20th, the Tribute Center will present a program on Diversity in NYC’s Muslim Communities, featuring a panel of cultural leaders from Arab, African American, South Asian and West African Muslim communities. The speakers on the panel will discuss reactions to their community after September 11, trends they have experienced and ways they envision moving forward.

These three programs reflect our current changing exhibition, “Renewing Our American Dream after 9/11,” which explores how the dreams of many in our immigrant communities were challenged and transformed by the events of 9/11. This is a very important issue to discuss, as we must remember how many people were affected by the horrible events of September 11th, either directly or indirectly. It is crucial that we focus on tolerance and understanding, instead of allowing these events to perpetuate more hatred. By reaching out and listening to the experiences of others, we can learn more about ourselves and promote a society of tolerance and peace.

Loyola University

2009-04-07T11:49:00.003-04:00

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Loyola University in Chicago, IL, located right on the banks of Lake Michigan. This was the second year in a row that we were asked by Professor Christopher Helt, Esq., to give a presentation for his class, “Special Topics: Terrorism.” Prof. Helt brings in several different guest speakers to his class, starting with those who work in the field of prevention of terrorism (i.e. CIA, Department of Homeland Security, FBI) and ending with those who have been personally affected. The class has approximately 18-20 students, but a school-wide announcement of our presentation drew 80-100.

David Barrette, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center’s Volunteer Program Manager, Rose Ellen Dowdell, one of our volunteer guides who lost her husband on September 11th, and myself were given a 2 ½ hour time slot to give our lecture and allow for questions. Our presentation lasted the full 2 ½ hours, and with all of the well crafted, thorough and thoughtful questions about the effects of intolerance and terrorism, we probably could have gone an hour more!

We began with a Power Point presentation that included both pictures and videos. We spoke of the events of September 11, 2001 in terms of the past (beginning with the February 26, 1993 attack on the World Trade Center by the same radical Muslim terrorist group that attacked on 9/11), the present, and the future. When discussing the present, we focused on the positive outcomes that have come from the horrible events of September 11th, such as volunteerism, scholarships, and the many foundations that have been formed, just to name a few. We noted that hatred could easily beget hatred – but that is not our mission at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center. As I said then, say now, and will say again, we truly believe that, through enlightenment, we will achieve a better future.

Below are some thoughts from David Barrette and Rose Ellen Dowdell:

David Barrette

It was very important to me to have the students feel the impact of 9/11 in their classroom. The presentation sent a direct message to the students that it is in all of our hands to go out in our communities and help stem this thing we call terrorism. Each student left the classroom a little bit more charged up about ways to do that. We have an obligation to share this piece of history with the young people in society to always strive toward building a better tomorrow.
It was nice to see the group of students take a piece of our Tribute Center home with them without even having to set foot in the door. I feel that we accomplished our mission.

Rose Ellen Dowdell

Thursday, April 2 we arrived at Loyola University in the Windy City. We were met by Prof. Chris Helt and his lovely wife Susan. Even though I knew the message that I wanted to get across, I was a little nervous, worried that I'd be unable to keep their interest. Thank goodness it was not like that at all. The students and others who attended were totally engrossed in what Lee, David and I had to say. They were not only attentive but excited. I think our message was not what they expected from people involved in 9/11. They may have thought we'd be vindictive or vengeful. However our message of hope for the future and our desire to educate resulting in a better future was something they could understand. I guess the notion that they really could shape our world through their actions became not just a notion but a realistic goal. That's something to get excited about! I thank Loyola for a fulfilling experience and their enthusiasm. I'm sure I speak for Lee and David when I say we're I looking forward to next year with a new group of students to hear Tribute's message.