A word cloud of the remarks by US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Brian C. Aggeler in Skopje on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attack.
I’m delighted to be here today and share this special day with you. And I’m delighted that many of you woke up early this Sunday morning to join us! We’re especially honored to have Minister of Defense Besimi and his family join us. Let me begin by thanking our Regional Security Officer, Rashel Assouri, and her outstanding Local Guard Force for organizing this event. For one day this fantastic team has changed from their blue uniforms to red volunteer shirts, and this wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Ten years ago, Americans and our friends around the world were shocked by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which claimed the lives of almost 3000 innocent victims not only from the United States but more than 90 nations. The simple words “nine eleven” still bring heartrending memories but, as these ten years have passed, it has become a tradition to honor the victims of those attacks and the resilience of the communities that were affected through community service, volunteerism, and charity. This weekend, across the United States and around the globe thousands of people will gather together to do something for those less fortunate – whether donating blankets to homeless shelters or donating blood and food to those in need. We also honor them through events such as this Walk, which bring together people of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths to reaffirm the spirit of friendship, understanding, and community.
Here in Skopje, in addition to this wonderful Walk, we will be co-hosting a Blood Drive and Food Donation Event with the Skopje City Red Cross. It will take place from 10:30 to 4:30 tomorrow, and we hope many of you will join us to help those in communities around this country in need of medical assistance, clothing, or food for the coming winter. And then on Monday evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m., we will be holding a beautiful 9/11 Commemorative Photo Show at Menada Gallery in the Old Skopje Bazaar. I hope you will all join us for those events, and with us, and recommit to making our communities stronger, more tolerant and more compassionate.
So thank you again for coming. Please join me up here for a quick photo, and let’s walk!
No comments yet.