12 September 2002

Ceremonies Throughout the Americas Mark September 11 Anniversary, September 11, 2002

(Several presidents attend memorial events to honor victims of terrorism)

By Domenick DiPasquale Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- In solemn ceremonies September 11 ranging from tributes by local firefighters to candlelight prayer vigils, ordinary citizens and government officials throughout the Americas commemorated the 3,025 victims who were killed in terrorist attacks on the United States one year ago.

The remembrances in the Western Hemisphere echoed those held in the United States and across the world that day to pay tribute to the lives lost on September 11, 2001. Citizens from more than 90 nations perished in the attacks.

"The hemisphere suffered with us," pointed out Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Affairs Otto Reich, who noted that 353 citizens from 28 Latin American and Caribbean nations died at the World Trade Center in New York.

The presidents of several Latin American nations participated in September 11 commemorative ceremonies.

In Ecuador, President Gustavo Noboa, the entire Ecuadorian cabinet, and representatives of the military participated in a Mass at Quito's La Dolorosa Cathedral presided over by Cardinal Antonio Gonzalez. The homily delivered at the Mass included a condemnation of terrorism, its disregard for the value of human life, and its lack of tolerance.

President Ricardo Lagos of Chile joined U.S. officials at the American Embassy in Santiago to present awards to the winners of a national essay and drawing contest for students reflecting on the theme of the post-September-11 world. A memorial garden was also dedicated on the embassy grounds.

At a ceremony held at Mercosur administrative headquarters in Montevideo, Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle read aloud the biography of Alberto Dominguez, a Uruguayan citizen killed when American Airlines flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. At the end of the ceremony, saplings symbolizing a spirit of hope for the future were given to each of the 500 guests in attendance.

In Nicaragua, President Enrique Bolanos spoke at a ceremony held at the American Embassy in Managua, denouncing the terrorist attacks and praising the resourcefulness and determination of the United States in responding to them.

Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco attended a memorial event at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, at which he expressed his country's unequivocal support for the fight against terrorism. Later, at the Fireman's Monument in downtown San Jose, local firefighters paid tribute as the Costa Rican postal authority unveiled a new September 11 commemorative stamp.

Eight hundred firefighters in Panama likewise paid tribute to their fallen comrades in New York by participating in a torch-lit procession to the U.S. Embassy in Panama City on the evening of September 11 to lay a wreath. Earlier in the day, more than 500 people attended a memorial service at which representatives from the Christian, Hindu, Baha'i, Jewish, Muslim, and Kuna Indian faiths read short passages on peace from their respective holy scriptures.

Local firefighters also participated in a public ceremony at Guatemala City's Independence Obelisk attended by the vice president of Guatemala, the entire Guatemalan cabinet, and civil society leaders.

Mexican and U.S. officials, including Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, gathered at a public park in the Mexican capital to dedicate a refurbished statue of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In Brazil, the Sao Paulo state assembly convened a special legislative session September 11 to memorialize the victims of the terrorist attacks. Captain Dan Daly of the New York City Fire Department spoke at the unprecedented special session. The president of the state assembly voiced Brazil's sympathy for and solidarity with the people of the United States and condemned the attacks as "aggression against the whole world."

Choirs in Canada, Brazil, Suriname, Haiti, and Honduras participated in the global "Rolling Requiem" during which Mozart's Requiem was played in each of the world's 24 time zones beginning at 8:46 a.m. local time, the moment when the first hijacked aircraft hit the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Throughout the eastern Caribbean nations of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, church bells tolled at 8:46 a.m. and again at 9:03 a.m., the time when the south tower of the World Trade Center was struck.

On the border between the Canadian province of British Colombia and the American state of Washington, public safety personnel and members of the Canadian and American Legions gathered at a border memorial to pay their respects. One side of the monument is dedicated to victims of terrorism, while the other side honors those who fight and sacrifice in the war on terrorism.