The program to mark the 10th anniversary of the attack officially opened with Terry White, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy, highlighting the disastrous account of 9/11. [break]
He reflected on the moment when the attack took place, and how people stood in solidarity after the event.
“We should reflect on the lessons that we can draw from that event and see where we can go from there,” he added.
Former chief librarian of American Library, Monk Krishna Man expressed his pleasure at attending the memorial service. He reflected on how he had attended the 9/11 memorial service in New York Ground Zero in the year 2002.
He had also participated in the one-month Interfaith Peace Walk from Kathmandu to Lumbini and after a month, he was invited to participate in the Interfaith Peace Walk from Albany to New York.
“People feel a strong need to be among their near ones during difficult times which helps them to get solace and peace of mind,” he added.
He also talked about how in the history of mankind we have come to know many terrorist attacks where innocent people were forced to die without being guilty.
“The 9/11 disaster was a terrorist attack of a degree never witnessed in the world before and it shocked everyone,” he added.
With his invocation and words of peace, Monk Krishna Man said that people should know that terrorism will never succeed and terrorists should know that they will never achieve their goals.
Patricia Mahoney, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy, reflected on how ten years ago, it was a day of darkness and death and cruelty, with images so
appalling.
“Those who died are gone forever, but we honor them and also the victims of the terror all around the world, and the selfless military and the civilians who made sacrifices and kept us safe,” said Mahoney.
She talked about how the world before and after 9/11 is different, and how terrorists aim to alienate people.
“But they failed as they couldn’t succeed in killing the shared sense of humanity. Despite the terror, we remain an open and tolerant society and we have good governance and support, and it has helped in keeping our world safe,” added Mahoney.
Reciting a poem of peace, “Days in the life,” writer and a poet Manju Kanchuli at the program explained how women play special roles in creating peace.
The program was formally closed by Terry White, and in his concluding remarks, he thanked everyone and expressed how we all have mutual respect and are together for peace.
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