OVER 700 people are expected to attend a Glasgow church on Sunday for an interfaith remembrance and thanksgiving service marking the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
The service, a combination of efforts from Glasgow the Caring City charity and Cathcart Old Parish Church, takes place at the congregation’s Carmunnock Road building at 2pm.
The Caring City worked with the families of the victims of the Twin Towers attack in the weeks after the event, bringing many of them to Scotland for holidays and respite, and also working direct with the family units in New York.
Holidays continued for five years, but the relationship continues today through mutual support and ongoing working partnerships.
Reverend Neil Galbraith, founder of Glasgow the Caring City, said: “This is a very fitting act of remembrance and reflects greatly the work undertaken by the Caring City, and the compassion shown to New York and the victims of 9/11, by the people of Scotland.
“The 11th of September 2001 was a day which changed the world, and, for Glasgow the Caring City charity, a day when we were called once again to stand up to the mark and act in the name of compassion.
“On that day we made a promise to ‘never forget’ we continue to keep that promise and this will reflected on Sunday.”
The act of remembrance will be conducted by a wide range of clergy and politicians, led by Archbishop Mario Conti and the Reverend Sandra Black, Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow.
Also taking part will be Annabel Goldie MSP, Tom Harris MP, Linda Fabiani MSP, Fiona Brodie of the Jewish Representative Council, Dr. M. T. Shaheen, president of the Central Mosque, Mr. Chowdhary of the Sikh Temple and others.
The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Rt Hon Bob Winter, and the Principle Officer of the Consulate of the United States of America, Dana Linnet, will also be in attendance.
Music on the day will be provided by the choir of Kings Park Secondary School and the Pipe Bands of Strathclyde Police and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue. At the close of the service there will be a very large march of the agencies involved, which will go past Cathcart Old.
Strathclyde Police divisional commander for Glasgow South and East Renfrewshire, Chief Superintendent Andrew Bates, said: “We are honoured to be asked to participate in the service, which remembers the tragic events that took place ten years ago and the thousands of lives that were lost.
“Strathclyde Police has a close affinity with the emergency service workers in New York and our officers wholly understand the pressures their colleagues would have experienced in dealing with such tragic circumstances.
“This is also about paying tribute to those who put their lives at risk during the rescue and recovery effort, those who worked tirelessly while bravely managing their own grief as they learned of the lose of family, friends and colleagues.”
Ends.
Notes to news desks:
For more information, please contact Reverend Neil Galbraith on 0141 637 4168, 0771 079 6332 or email revneilgalbraith@hotmail.com
The service begins at 2pm on Sunday 11th September at Cathcart Old Parish Church, 119 Carmunnock Road, Glasgow. All media welcome.
8 September 2011.
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