VOICES Slideshows
Welcome to the VOICES Slideshow page, where we are pleased to share photographs that illustrate our ongoing programs for the 9/11 community. Click on the right hand links to choose the slideshow you want to view.
September 9th & 10th Day of Remembrance 2009
September 9th Day of Remembrance
VOICES held a New Jersey Day of Remembrance at the newly opened New Brunswick office. The event provided an opportunity for families, rescue workers and survivors to learn more about VOICES work. It also marked the opening of VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial Exhibit that will remain on display at the New Brunswick office throughout the month of September.
The Day of Remembrance event included an update on the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Dr. Iris Udasin spoke about her work with the rescue and recovery workers and guests heard from 9/11 rescue worker Charles Giles about his personal experience.
September 10th Day of Remembrance
VOICES annual Day of Remembrance in New York drew a crowd of family members, rescue workers, survivors and service providers. The popular event included panel discussions, roundtables and presentations on issues of importance to the 9/11 community including: Documenting the Stories of Corporations; Updates from the NYC Medical Examiner; Long Term Mental Health Needs; Advocating for Public Policy--including Fresh Kills and Guantanamo Bay; as well as an update on the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. VOICES also held 9/11 Living Memorial workshops scheduled throughout the day.
Dianne Brudnicki and a group of her art students traveled from Seattle, Washington to hand deliver forty beautiful hand painted boxes they created for the 9/11 families that included a message from the artist. VOICES thanks the following young people and adults including those pictured below: Benjamin Brudnicki, Anna Ohyama, Karina Chos, Abby Christiansen, Dianne Brudnicki, Michelle Matson, Paula Harper Christiansen and Stephanie Chors.
The Day of Remembrance program concluded with a tribute to Beverly Eckert and awarding of a posthumous Building Bridges award to VOICES friend and colleague, Beverly Eckert, who perished in the Buffalo plane crash earlier this year. Beverly’s sisters, Karen Eckert and Susan Bourque, accepted the award in recognition of Beverly’s powerful advocacy work that benefited so many in the 9/11 community. Beverly is sorely missed by all of us. Her work lives on through VOICES as well as Karen and Susan's airline safety advocacy work.
2nd Annual Always Remember Benefit 2009
Thanks to each of you who attended VOICES Second Annual Always Remember Benefit in New York City – your heartfelt support is very much appreciated.
It was a fantastic evening and we are receiving rave reviews! What an honor it was to have President Clinton, Jon Bon Jovi and Joan Lunden support VOICES efforts to create the 9/11 Living Memorial Project.
Our evening host, Joan Lunden, shared a touching story about how VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial Project inspired Joan’s own personal journey to document the life of her father who had passed away when she was young. Her remarks reinforced the importance of our work to provide a VOICE for families and survivors to create meaningful tributes of their loved ones for future generations.
President Clinton gave an inspirational keynote address urging people to focus on our common humanity rather than differences. He spoke eloquently about the importance of VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial:
“The historic significance of this endeavor, doing this so soon after 9/11 when so many of the survivors’ families are still around and people who worked with them, people who know, I can’t tell you how important this is for history.” As many of you know, President Clinton has been very supportive of the 9/11 community and we are especially grateful for his support of VOICES work to create the 9/11 Living Memorial
Project
And what can I say about Jon Bon Jovi and his band? WOW! In addition to singing inspirational songs, Jon shared his personal experience on 9/11. His moving story and memories of the day and weeks that followed are clearly etched in his mind. He finished off the night with a rendition of “Here Comes the Sun” which is an uplifting message of his hope and our resiliency. Jon’s philanthropy and commitment to the renewal of New York is an inspiration for us all!
Preparing for an event is always a time of personal reflection as I reach out to the many individuals that have supported our efforts over the past eight years. Certainly our special guests are at the top of this year’s list – President Clinton, Jon Bon Jovi and Joan Lunden. A special thank you to Brian Williams for lending his voice to our video.
Also, a heartfelt thank you to Honorary Chairman, Governor Tom Kean and Alice Greenwald, Director of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, for her compelling presentation. VOICES is excited about our newly announced partnership with the museum and look forward to our Living Memorial content being a key permanent exhibit once the museum is built.
In addition, our sincere appreciation to the event committee especially co-chairs - Bonnie McEneaney, Kevin and Debby McEneaney. And, finally, thank you to the long list of dedicated staff, volunteers and everyone else who played a part in making June 8th a very memorable evening that we will Always Remember!!
|
