UNITED WE STAND AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET 9/11/01- September 11

 

UNITED WE STAND AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET 9/11/01-

September 11, is a day deeply embedded in the collective thoughts and memories of many of us from 22 years ago. Those of us who were in New York remember with vivid clarity what they did and saw throughout that very dark day in 2001, and where every member of their family was. May the memory of those almost 3,000 innocents that lost their lives that day in the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, never be forgotten.

From the ashes of 9/11 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the only religious building to be destroyed that day, has risen again and I am happy and honored, among others, to have played a role in that on a pro bono basis. "..and I will multiply days as the phoenix. (Hebrew: chol). The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise." During this period heading to and through this most solemn day of remembrance the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine designed by Santiago Calatrava will be lit from the inside out in all its glory again as last year and to the ages. The hand carved quotes (in the 3rd photo) on the Church’s left side near its main entrance directly honors and commemorates those who were murdered that day and why the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Ground Zero is also an American “National Shrine" acting as a cenotaph. The term is derived from the Hellenic kenos taphos, meaning "empty tomb." A cenotaph is a monument, sometimes in the form of a tomb, to a person or group of persons buried elsewhere.

Today September 11, 2023 at 1 P.M. the East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance/ EMBCA in Cooperation with The American Legion in Greece will have a Remembrance  and Commemoration of 9/11/01 at the Athens Plaza Hotel in Athens, Greece by Invitation. The program will include an Introduction by Nikos Papadopoulos, Commander Post GC 1 of The American Legion of Athens, and Presentations by EMBCA President Lou Katsos , and Prof. John Chrysoulakis the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy. Anastasia Zannis internationally known cross over singer will sing the National Anthems.

Ilias I. Katsos