9/11 Families - Tribute Center News

Tribute Center News

From Hiroshima to 9/11, a girl’s origami lives on
By Wayne Drash, CNN  l Published: December 17, 2009 

Article detailing the generosity and hope of Sadako Sasaki's origami cranes 
and their role at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center.  "The delicate red crane, 
smaller than a fingernail, is on display at the center.  Hanging near it are 
origami cranes that were placed on the fence around Ground Zero after the 
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Another 10,000 cranes from families 
and colleagues of Japanese victims of 9/11 surround Sadako’s."  
CNN Article

Our 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service Event:
Remembering many by serving others

Operation USO Care Package Event

Please click here to read the Fox News article on this event.

Tribute Volunteers Visit Flight 93 Memorial

In July, thirty-six Tribute volunteers, staff members and family of
volunteers traveled to Shanksville, PA to visit the Flight 93 Memorial 
site and the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department. During the trip, 
the group received a guided tour from the National Park Service of the 
Flight 93 crash site and the Temporary Memorial and exchanged 
experiences with the Flight 93 Memorial Ambassadors.




Tribute volunteer Anthony Palmeri said, “As I sat there looking at
the crash site and listening to Donna explain the event of their
9/11, I realized, I was now the visitor. Hearing her gentle voice
explain the events of that day brought me right back. As she read 
off the names of the crew andpassengers of Flight 93, I could feel 
my heart beating faster and faster. I sensed the sorrow in her
voice and the sadness in her heart. What I also felt was that very 
special connection that you and I share being part of 9/11 and the 
Tribute Center.”


At the Shanksville Firehouse, the Tribute volunteers were greeted by 
Chief Shaffer, a first responder on September 11, 2001. That evening, 
the group was treated to a home-cooked meal by the Flight 93 staff 
and Ambassadors. Donna Glessner, founder of the Flight 93 Memorial 
Ambassador Program, gave a special presentation about their program. 
At the offices of the Flight 93 National Memorial, the grouplearned 
about the future Flight 93 National Memorial from the National Park 
Service. They shared audio presentations of oral histories and a 
presentation of commemorative objects visitors leave at the temporary 
memorial site.

A special thank you to our hosts, for making us feel welcome, and for 
sharing their stories.

The Tribute WTC Visitor Center on the CBS Evening News
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center was featured on a CBS Evening News        
special. Please click on the above link to view the video clip.

Sharing the Pain of 9/11 Loss, on a Stage

A New York Times article detailing the performance of six Tribute WTC 
Visitor Center docents who talk about their different experiences of 
September 11th and how it affected and changed their lives.  The docents 
range from survivors,  rescue and recovery workers of the attacks to 
family members who lost loved ones.

Click here to read the article on the theatrical presentation of
Performing Tribute


Stepping Forward

On January 7, 2009, the September 11th  Families’ Association hosted a 
special evening at the Tribute Center to welcome families and professionals 
from the 9/11 Project.  In October 2001, the 9/11 Project was established 
to provide legal assistance in the aftermath of the attacks.

The Project was the only connection some families, who were undocumented, 
had to the 9/11 community.  Living in theshadows, many were scared to come 
forward.  The 9/11 Project has been working to secure permanent legal 
status in the UnitedStates for these families.  In August 2008, they obtained 
a temporary  humanitarian parole from the Department of Homeland
Security giving the family members legal presence in the United States.

The 9/11 Project assisted with linguistic  and cultural barriers by lending 
support & resources.  Ana Soria, who lost her husband inthe attacks, 
said “Since the day we got legal presence, our lives changed a lot.”

The 9/11 Project counted on the commitment of volunteers from New York 
City law firms.  Debra Brown Steinberg, a  seniorpartner at Cadwalader, 
Wickersham & Taft LLP, was instrumentalin coordinating this pro bono effort.

Debra felt the event was important after visiting the Center, stating, “Tribute 
is the connective tissue which binds us together no matterwhat language we 
speak, where we were born, or how we mourn that day. The names and faces 
on the walls of the Tribute Center,and the names and faces of their families 
walking in the galleries,come from every corner of the map, reminding us that 
the World Trade Center attacks were not just on the citizens of New York, 
but on the citizens of the world.”

The family members and law  professionals were greeted by Tribute Center 
volunteers who spoke about their personal experiences. Shannon, who lost 
her husband on Flight 11, said“It was wonderful to  meet more members of 
the community and to welcome them into this network of support & healing 
we’re all part of. Hopefully they will decide to get involved in Tribute tours 
or as gallery guides.”

Tribute Center Teacher Awards 2009

On  February 26, 2009, the second annual Tribute Center Teacher Awards 
were  presented.  Four teachers received awards for projects commemorating 
September 11th in their classrooms.

Teachers Aaden Stern and Courtney Winkfield  of Academy for Young 
Writers, Brooklyn, NY require students to conduct oralhistories to learn about 
historical events that occurred in their life-times and connect these events 
to their own lives. Students chose to conduct oral histories about the attacks 
ofSeptember 11, 2001 and then  published them. Michael Chrvala of Shiloh 
Middle School, Hampstead Maryland is an 8th grade U.S.history teacher who 
considers September 11th a “teachable moment.”

“Through the use of videos, readings, and a lot of discussion …I believe that 
it is my job to make certain that my students appreciatethe dedication and 
selflessness of the rescuers.” Teacher Noriko Koide from Valley Stream HS 
and Lynbrook HS, Long Island, NY teaches Japanese. Since 9/11/01 she has 
had her students make origami cranes for the victims of 9/11 as a symbol of 
and hope for world peace, and has involved her students in conversations 
about the meaning of this history.

Teacher Jamie Ellinger and her students from Northside College Preparatory HS, 
Chicago, IL participate in a Living History Project. 10th grade students came 
to NYC specifically to conduct their oralhistories. The awards have been made 
possible by the generous support of: The Brooke Jackman Foundation; 
The Christopher Slattery 9/11 Memorial Scholarship Foundation; The Greg 
Richards, Larry Polatsch, Scott Weingard Memorial Fund; The Welles Remy 
Crowther Charitable Trust; and The September 11th Families’ Association. 
They were presented by New York State  Education Department, Deputy 
Commissioner for Cultural Education Jeffrey Cannell.

Sabino Arana Award

On Saturday, January 31, 2009 at a gala event at the Euskalduna Conference 
Center and Concert Hall in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain,the September 11th 
Families’ Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Centerjointly with the March 11th 
Association of Those Affected by Terrorism based in Madrid were honored as  
recipients of the prestigious Sabino Arana Foundation XX Anniversary Award 
in recognition of both associations’ contribution in civic engagement and 
commitment to bring peace to the world.

Present to receive the award from the hands of the foundation’s President,
Mr. Juan Maria Atutxa, and on behalf of the Association were CEO Jennifer 
Adams and President Lee Ielpi along with other staff members who were
graciously hosted by the Basque government to attend the awards as well 
as to have the opportunity to visit various institutions in the Basque 
Country. In the past 50 years, hundreds of people have lost their lives to 
terrorism in the Basque Country.  These opportunities “to not only visit this 
beautiful countrybut to also to hold meetings with various government 
entities and civilian groups and exchange experiences with others affected 
by terrorism reinforced the importance of our mission and expanded our 
vision to unite people againstterrorism in peace” expressed Lee Ielpi in his 
acceptance speech in front of an audience of almost 2,000 which included 
the President of the Basque Country, Lehendakari Ibarretxe, members of 
Basque government and cultural institutions as well as recipients of the 
awards from the last 20 years.

The winners of this year’s awards along with the September 11th Families’ 
Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Center and the March 11th Association of 
Those Affected by Terrorism were the French-Basque Cardinal Roger
Etchegaray, the Basque writer Toti Martinez de Lezea, the Bilbao Fine Arts 
Museum, the Euskadi (Basque Country) Cyclist Foundation and the business 
group Arteche. The Sabino Arana awards are given annually by the Sabino
Arana Foundation in commemoration of the birth of the founding father of
Basque nationalism – Sabino Arana.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

911 Families © 2009